A two-part referendum was held in Switzerland on 23 May 1875.[1] A new federal law establishing and certifying civil status and marriage was narrowly approved, whilst a new federal law on suffrage was narrowly rejected.[1]
This was the first optional referendum held in the country, as all previous referendums had been mandatory referendums.[2] Whilst obligatory referendums required both a majority of voters and a majority of cantons in favour, optional referendums required only a majority of the public vote.[3]
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