1 Where the Federal Assembly decides to submit a counter-proposal, three questions are put to the voters on the same ballot paper. Each person who is eligible to vote may state, without reservation:
whether they prefer the popular initiative to the law currently applicable;
whether they prefer the counter-proposal to the law currently applicable;
which of the two proposals should become law where both the People and the cantons prefer both proposals to the law currently applicable.
2 The absolute majority shall be established separately for each question. Questions that have not been answered shall be disregarded.
3 Where both the popular initiative and the counter-proposal are accepted, the result of the third question shall be decisive. The proposal that secures a higher number of popular votes and a higher number of cantonal votes shall become law.
1 Amended by No I of the Ordinance of 8 Oct. 1999, in force since 1 March 2000 (AS 2000 411; BBl 1999 7922).
2 Inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 25 Sept. 2009 (Conditional Withdrawal of a Popular Initiative), in force since 1 Feb. 2010 (AS 2010 271; BBl 2009 3591 3609).