electionstracker

Switzerland 1951 federal election

What was the result of the 1951 federal election in Switzerland?

Free Democratic Party of Switzerland won 51 of 196 seats with 24.0% of the vote. 71.2% of registered voters cast a ballot.

  • Switzerland
  • Held:
  • Final result
  • ParlGov, read 5 October 2026

Which party won the most seats?

Final results from ParlGov, read : Free Democratic Party of Switzerland won 51 of 196 seats with 24.0% of the vote; 71.2% of registered voters cast a ballot, down 1.2 points on 1947.

  • Social Democratic Party of Switzerland 49 +1 seat 26.0% −0.2 points
  • Free Democratic Party of Switzerland 51 −1 seat 24.0% +1.0 points
  • Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland 48 +4 seats 22.5% +1.3 points
  • Swiss People's Party 23 +2 seats 12.6% +0.5 points
  • Alliance of Independents 10 +2 seats 5.1% +0.7 points
  • Swiss Party of Labour 5 −2 seats 2.7% −2.4 points
  • Liberal Party of Switzerland 5 −2 seats 2.6% −0.6 points
  • Democratic Group 4 −1 seat 2.2% −0.7 points
  • Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland 1 0 seats 1.0% +0.1 points
  • Seats won
  • Change on the previous election at the right
  • Share of the vote
  • Share at the previous election
  • Change in points at the right

Changes are against the Switzerland 1947 federal election, party by party.

99 of 196 seats make a majority

Key numbers

  1. 24.0%

    Share of the vote won by Free Democratic Party of Switzerland

    Free Democratic Party of Switzerland won 51 of 196 seats. A majority needs 99.

  2. +4 seats

    Seats gained by Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland

    The largest gain in seats compared with 1947. Liberal Party of Switzerland lost 2 seats.

  3. 71.2%

    Voter turnout

    Down 1.2 points on 1947.

Seats and votes by party

PartySeats± seats%± pointsVotes
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland49+126.0−0.2249,857
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland51−124.0+1.0230,687
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland48+422.5+1.3216,616
Swiss People's Party23+212.6+0.5120,819
Alliance of Independents10+25.1+0.749,100
Swiss Party of Labour5−22.7−2.425,659
Liberal Party of Switzerland5−22.6−0.624,813
Democratic Group4−12.2−0.721,606
Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland101.0+0.19,559
Liberal Socialist Party0−10.8+0.48,194

± is the change against the Switzerland 1947 federal election, party by party.

Votes by party
  • Social Democratic Party of Switzerland 249,857
  • Free Democratic Party of Switzerland 230,687
  • Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland 216,616
  • Swiss People's Party 120,819
  • Alliance of Independents 49,100
  • Swiss Party of Labour 25,659
  • Liberal Party of Switzerland 24,813
  • Democratic Group 21,606
  • Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland 9,559
  • Liberal Socialist Party 8,194

ParlGov lists parties with at least 1 percent of the vote or 2 seats, so the rows do not add up to the valid votes.

How many people voted?

71.2% of the 1,386,146 registered voters cast a ballot (986,937 ballots), down 1.2 points on 1947. 967,989 of them were valid votes.

How do the votes compare with the seats?

  • Free Democratic Party of Switzerland24.0% of votes26.0% of seats
  • Social Democratic Party of Switzerland26.0% of votes25.0% of seats
  • Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland22.5% of votes24.5% of seats
  • Swiss People's Party12.6% of votes11.7% of seats
  • Alliance of Independents5.1% of votes5.1% of seats
  • Swiss Party of Labour2.7% of votes2.6% of seats
  • Liberal Party of Switzerland2.6% of votes2.6% of seats
  • Democratic Group2.2% of votes2.0% of seats
  • Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland1.0% of votes0.5% of seats
Each party's share of the vote (outlined) and of the seats (filled)

The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 2.3 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 5.1 by votes and 4.8 by seats; Social Democratic Party of Switzerland led Free Democratic Party of Switzerland by 2.0 points of the vote.

Time and source Data as of