How many times a year do voters normally vote on federal matters?

Four Sundays per year are reserved for federal votes. That is the normal number.

Common mistakes

B: 3

Sometimes a date is cancelled because there is no proposal to vote on. But four are planned.

A: 5

Not five but four Sundays per year are reserved for federal votes.

How and when people vote

At federal level there are normally four voting dates per year. These dates are reserved many years in advance. If you add the canton and the municipality, people vote about four to five times a year. On one date people often vote on several proposals at the same time. Cantons and municipalities usually put their own votes on the same days.

Having a say: rights and obligations · Elections and popular votes

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• zh.ch
• bk.admin.ch

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