1997 Swiss referendums

Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1997.^[1] The first three were held on 8 June on two popular initiatives "EU accession talks in front of the people" and "for a ban on arms exports" and a federal resolution on ending the federal monopoly on producing and selling gunpowder. The two popular initiatives were both rejected, whilst the end of the gunpowder monopoly was approved.^[1]

The last two were held on 28 September on a federal resolution on financing unemployment insurance and a popular initiative "youth without drugs". Both were rejected by voters.^[2]

Results

Month	Question	For		Against		Blank/invalid		Total	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Blank	Invalid				Full	Half	Full	Half
June	EU accession talks	416,720	25.9	1,189,440	74.1	24,417	4,987	1,635,564	4,614,662	35.4	0	0	20	6
	Banning arms exports	361,164	22.5	1,243,869	77.5	26,845	4,955	1,636,833		35.5	0	0	20	6
	Ending the gunpowder monopoly	1,268,162	82.2	275,049	17.8	77,520	6,165	1,626,896		35.3	20	6	0	0
September	Financing unemployment insurance	901,361	49.2	931,457	50.8	37,703	6,101	1,876,622	4,620,084	40.6
	Youth without drugs initiative	545,713	29.3	1,314,060	70.7	20,248	6,033	1,886,054		40.8	0	0	20	6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver