Foreign residents in Moutier gain voting rights before town joins canton Jura

Foreign nationals living in Moutier – currently part of canton Bern – will be able to vote in local and cantonal elections this year, months before the town joins the canton of Jura on January 1, 2026. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox A total of 1,114 foreign residents have received an information booklet from the local authorities to help them understand their new political rights and how to take part in the democratic process. + Voting rights for foreigners: Why this right is rarely used Unlike canton Bern, Jura allows foreign nationals to vote on cantonal issues – as long as they’ve lived in Switzerland for at least ten years and in canton Jura for at least one. The only exception is votes involving changes to the Constitution. Foreigners can also take part in communal votes, provided they meet certain conditions. Foreign nationals from Moutier will be able to take part in political life under Jura’s rules. That means they’ll be eligible to vote in ...