Civic Duty Initiative
On 30 November 2025, the Swiss people rejected the Federal Popular Initiative ‘For a civically engaged Switzerland (Civic Duty Initiative)’.
Results
Topic
All Swiss men are required to perform military service or civil protection duties. Conscientious objectors to military service must instead complete a longer period in civilian service. Those who do not perform any form of service are required to pay an exemption tax. The vast majority of service days are directly related to Switzerland’s national security. For Swiss women, participation in the Armed Forces or civil protection is voluntary.
The Civic Duty Initiative proposes that all Swiss citizens be required to perform community or environmental service. Its aim is to promote the common good through a form of civic duty, extending the current service obligation to include women. This service should be performed either in the military, in civil protection, or through an equivalent citizen-based service, provided that the required personnel levels for the Armed Forces and civil protection are guaranteed. The initiative seeks to broaden the definition of national security by highlighting mandatory service in areas such as climate protection, food security and caregiving. As with the current system, those who do not serve would be required to pay a tax. Universal mandatory service would double the number of citizens recruited, leading to proportionally higher costs for the federal government, cantons and the economy.
