ABSTRACT
I have referred almost invariably to the rights of the people in Switzerland. This is not a very exact expression. One should speak rather of the rights of the electorate, which does not include women, young men under twenty years of age, foreigners, or bankrupts, at least in many cantons. According to the last census, the population of Switzerland is upwards of 3,885,5005 but the number of electors is about 900,000. Among those who do not vote are many who wish to vote but cannot; but there are also some who have the vote but do not care to use it. In order to compel the latter class to record their vote, many cantons have instituted compulsory voting.
