In Switzerland, just about any policy area can end up on the ballot, meaning voters might find themselves deciding on anything from tax laws to, say, the fate of the local cheese festival. That said, some issues tend to come up for a vote more often than others—let’s just say the Swiss have their “greatest hits.”
Switzerland’s system is kind of like democracy on steroids, where big questions go straight to the people, while parliament and government handle the smaller stuff.
But here’s the tricky part: who decides what counts as a "big question" anyway?
The Swiss found a creative solution: if enough people think an issue matters, they gather signatures, and—voilà—it goes to a public vote, as long as it doesn’t break any international or internal legal rules.
This means that, from time to time, Swiss voters are asked to weigh in on topics that might seem downright bizarre to the rest of us.
Take the “horned cow initiative” in 2018: citizens voted on whether farmers who let their cows and goats keep their horns should get extra government cash.
Yes, that really happened! And while most voted “no,” it still sparked a big debate across the country about livestock practices and animal welfare—plus, it got over a million “yes” votes! Only in Switzerland, right? #DirectDemocracy
Chart Source: Swiss Democracy Passport & Swiss Democracy Foundation
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