Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 26 October 1919.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1894 The Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 60 of the 189 seats.Nohlen & Stöver, p1953
Electoral system This was the first election after proportional representation was adopted.
The country was divided into 25 districts - 20 multiple-member districts, with as many as 32 seats, and five were single-member districts. In each, seats were allocated based on parties' vote tallies.
Every multi-member district saw multiple parties take seats. In some districts, no party took more than one seat.
Unlike the previous Plurality block voting system, each voter now had just one vote.
Switzerland used a system of apparentment, allowing parties to combine votes in the same district.
Results National Council
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonAargau12Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents3Conservative People's Party3Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party3Appenzell Ausserrhoden3Free Democratic Party2Social Democratic Party1Appenzell Innerrhoden1Conservative People's Party1Basel-Landschaft4Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party1Basel-Stadt7Social Democratic Party3Conservative People's Party1Free Democratic Party1Liberal Party1Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents1Bern32Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents16Social Democratic Party9Free Democratic Party5Conservative People's Party1Grütli Union1Fribourg7Conservative People's Party6Free Democratic Party1Geneva8Free Democratic Party2Liberal Party2Social Democratic Party2Conservative People's Party1Young Radicals1Glarus2Democratic Group1Free Democratic Party1Grisons6Free Democratic Party3Conservative People's Party2Social Democratic Party1Lucerne8Conservative People's Party5Free Democratic Party3Neuchâtel7Social Democratic Party3Free Democratic Party2Liberal Party2Nidwalden1Conservative People's Party1Obwalden1Conservative People's Party1Schaffhausen2Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents2Schwyz3Conservative People's Party2Free Democratic Party1Solothurn6Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party2Conservative People's Party1St. Gallen15Conservative People's Party6Free Democratic Party5Democratic Group2Social Democratic Party2Ticino8Free Democratic Party4Conservative People's Party3Social Democratic Party1Thurgau7Free Democratic Party2Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents2Conservative People's Party1Democratic Group1Social Democratic Party1Uri1Free Democratic Party1Vaud16Free Democratic Party9Liberal Party4Social Democratic Party3Valais6Conservative People's Party5Free Democratic Party1Zug1Free Democratic Party1Zürich25Social Democratic Party9Free Democratic Party7Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents6Conservative People's Party1Evangelical People's Party1Grütli Union1Source: Bundesamt für Statistik
Council of States In several cantons, the members of the Council of States were chosen by the cantonal parliaments.Nohlen & Stöver, p1956
By canton ConstituencySeatsPartyElected membersAargau2Free Democratic PartyGottfried KellerFree Democratic PartyPeter Emil IslerAppenzell Ausserrhoden1Free Democratic PartyJohannes BaumannAppenzell Innerrhoden1Conservative People's PartyJohann Baptist Edmund DählerBasel-Landschaft1Free Democratic PartyGustav Johann SchneiderBasel-Stadt1Free Democratic PartyVictor Emil SchererBern2Free Democratic PartyPaul CharmillotParty of Farmers, Traders and IndependentsCarl MoserFribourg2Conservative People's PartyGeorges PythonConservative People's PartyGeorges de MontenachGeneva2Free Democratic PartyHenri FazyLiberal PartyJacques RuttyGlarus2Democratic GroupDavid LeglerFree Democratic PartyPhilippe MercierGrisons2Free Democratic PartyAndreas LaelysConservative People's PartyFriedrich BrüggerLucerne2Conservative People's PartyJosef DürigConservative People's PartyJosef WinigerNeuchâtel2Free Democratic PartyAuguste PettavelLiberal PartyPierre de MeuronNidwalden1Conservative People's PartyJakob Konstantin WyrschObwalden1Conservative People's PartyAdalbert WirzSchaffhausen2Free Democratic PartyAlbert AmmannFree Democratic PartyHeinrich BolliSchwyz2Conservative People's PartyMartin OchsnerConservative People's PartyJosef RäberSolothurn2Free Democratic PartyCasimir von ArxFree Democratic PartyRobert SchöpferSt. Gallen2Free Democratic PartyJohannes GeelConservative People's PartyAnton August MessmerTicino2Free Democratic PartyStefano GabuzziFree Democratic PartyAdolfo SoldiniThurgau2Free Democratic PartyAlexander Otto AepliFree Democratic PartyAlbert BöhiUri2Conservative People's PartyKarl HuberConservative People's PartyFranz MuheimVaud2Free Democratic PartyÉmile DindFree Democratic PartyHenri SimonValais2Conservative People's PartyJoseph RibordyConservative People's PartyJulius Zen RuffinenZug2Conservative People's PartyJosef AndermattConservative People's PartyJosef HildebrandZürich2Free Democratic PartyOskar WettsteinFree Democratic PartyPaul Usteri
References