Since when have Swiss women been allowed to vote and elect at federal level?

The men accepted women's suffrage on 7 February 1971. Since then, Swiss women citizens have been allowed to vote and elect at federal level.

Common mistakes

C: since 1919

In 1919, elections were held for the first time using proportional representation; but women were still not allowed to vote.

B: since 1946

In 1946 there was still no women's suffrage; a popular vote in 1959 even failed.

Women's suffrage and equal rights

In Switzerland, women were not allowed to vote and elect for a long time. Because only men were allowed to vote, the men had to decide on it. In 1959 they still said no. On 7 February 1971 they said yes, with 66 percent. Since then, Swiss women have had the right to vote and elect at federal level. Many other countries in Europe had it decades earlier.

History of Switzerland · Women's rights

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• zh.ch
• hls-dhs-dss.ch

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.