Initiative for the abolition of radio and television fees
Popular vote of Mar 4, 2018 · Popular initiative · No. 617Volksinitiative «Ja zur Abschaffung der Radio- und Fernsehgebühren (Abschaffung der Billag-Gebühren)»
Culture, religion and media: Radio, television and electronic media, Media and communication · Public finance: Indirect taxation
The proposal was rejected.
- Turnout
- 54.8 %
- Eligible voters
- 5'391'090
- Blank ballots
- 14'515
- Invalid ballots
- 9'700
The proposal
- Type of proposal
- Popular initiative, formulated draft
- Also known as
- NoBillag-Initiative
- Department in charge
- Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)
- Legislative period
- 50th legislative period
- Parliamentary business
- Ja zur Abschaffung der Radio- und Fernsehgebühren (Abschaffung der Billag-Gebühren). Volksinitiative (16.071)
- In the Federal Gazette
- Botschaft zur Volksinitiative «Ja zur Abschaffung der Radio- und Fernsehgebühren (Abschaffung der Billag-Gebühren)», Nov 22, 2016, Bundesbeschluss über die Volksinitiative «Ja zur Abschaffung der Radio- und Fernsehgebühren (Abschaffung der Billag-Gebühren)», Nov 22, 2016, Bundesbeschluss über die Volksinitiative «Ja zur Abschaffung der Radio- und Fernsehgebühren (Abschaffung der Billag-Gebühren)», Oct 10, 2017
By canton
Pick a canton to see its municipalities.
| Area | Yes | No | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 28.4 % | 71.6 % | 56.3 % |
| Bern | 24.9 % | 75.1 % | 53.2 % |
| Lucerne | 28.4 % | 71.6 % | 55.9 % |
| Uri | 30.4 % | 69.6 % | 48.4 % |
| Schwyz | 37.6 % | 62.4 % | 56.6 % |
| Obwalden | 31.0 % | 69.0 % | 62.0 % |
| Nidwalden | 32.5 % | 67.5 % | 62.6 % |
| Glarus | 33.2 % | 66.8 % | 49.6 % |
| Zug | 32.1 % | 67.9 % | 61.4 % |
| Fribourg | 22.4 % | 77.6 % | 51.8 % |
| Solothurn | 30.7 % | 69.3 % | 52.8 % |
| Basel-Stadt | 26.5 % | 73.5 % | 58.6 % |
| Basel-Landschaft | 27.5 % | 72.5 % | 52.7 % |
| Schaffhausen | 37.3 % | 62.7 % | 69.3 % |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 32.1 % | 67.9 % | 53.7 % |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 33.4 % | 66.6 % | 46.5 % |
| St. Gallen | 34.4 % | 65.6 % | 53.9 % |
| Graubünden | 22.8 % | 77.2 % | 54.0 % |
| Aargau | 32.2 % | 67.8 % | 51.8 % |
| Thurgau | 34.4 % | 65.6 % | 51.0 % |
| Ticino | 34.5 % | 65.5 % | 64.9 % |
| Vaud | 23.5 % | 76.5 % | 55.2 % |
| Valais | 28.8 % | 71.2 % | 56.1 % |
| Neuchâtel | 21.7 % | 78.3 % | 51.3 % |
| Geneva | 25.2 % | 74.8 % | 53.6 % |
| Jura | 21.9 % | 78.1 % | 46.7 % |
Municipalities in Nidwalden
| Area | Yes | No | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckenried | 33.6 % | 66.4 % | 65.4 % |
| Buochs | 30.9 % | 69.1 % | 62.5 % |
| Dallenwil | 40.0 % | 60.0 % | 64.7 % |
| Emmetten | 43.3 % | 56.7 % | 60.7 % |
| Ennetbürgen | 31.5 % | 68.5 % | 64.8 % |
| Ennetmoos | 36.0 % | 64.0 % | 60.3 % |
| Hergiswil (NW) | 37.1 % | 62.9 % | 58.9 % |
| Oberdorf (NW) | 28.4 % | 71.6 % | 68.2 % |
| Stans | 25.9 % | 74.1 % | 63.0 % |
| Stansstad | 36.9 % | 63.1 % | 60.3 % |
| Wolfenschiessen | 32.9 % | 67.1 % | 60.0 % |
In Parliament
- Federal Council
- No
- Parliament
- No
The councils vote on the federal decree, which recommends rejecting the initiative: a yes to the decree is a no to the initiative. The votes are counted here for and against the initiative.
Final vote, National Council · Roll call
Final vote, Council of States · Roll call
Recommendations
- Recommend yes
- EDU, FPS, SVP, LegaGewerbeverband
- Recommend no
- SD, BDP, CVP, EVP, FDP, GLP, Grüne, KVP, PdA, SP, UCSPeconomiesuisse, Gemeindeverband, KdK, Arbeitgeberverband, SBK, Bauernverband, Gewerkschaftsbund, Städteverband, VPOD, Travail.SuissePro Infirmis, Gewerbeverband SZ
- Free vote
- MCGKantonale Gewerbeverbände LU, ZG
- Dissenting sections
- Recommend yes: BDP BS, JungfreisinnigeRecommend no: EDU AG, Gewerbeverband AG, SVP GLFree vote: Gewerbeverband SH, SVP TI
From launch to ballot
- Launched by
- Komitee u.a. mit Vertreter:innen der Jungfreisinnigen und der JSVP
- Valid signatures
- 112'191 of 100'000 required (112.2 %)
- Invalid signatures
- 685
- Collection time
- 548 of 548 days, 205 signatures a day
- May 27, 2014Pre-examination
- Jun 11, 2014Collection started
- Dec 11, 2015Collection deadline
- Dec 11, 2015Submitted
- Jan 13, 2016Declared valid
- Oct 19, 2016Federal Council message
- Sep 29, 2017Adopted by Parliament
- Dec 5, 2017Vote called
- Mar 4, 2018Popular vote
- May 23, 2018Result validated
Campaign
Party strength
477 newspaper ads
- Media reports
- 1'338
- Media tone
- -32 (from −100 against to +100 for)
- No campaign websites
- sendeschluss-nein.ch
On the same day
Documents
Sources: Swissvotes, Federal Chancellery, Curia Vista, easyvote video, Année politique suisse
Data: Swissvotes, the database of federal popular votes (Année Politique Suisse, University of Bern; CC BY 4.0), the Federal Statistical Office and the Parliamentary Services.