Swiss canton rejects accelerating foreigner voting rights

The Swiss canton of Vaud has decided against halving the residential qualification period that foreigners must serve before being able to vote at communal level. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox A constitutional amendment to this effect was rejected at the polls by 56% of voters. The turnout was 43.92%. + Why some foreigners choose not to vote in Switzerland The parliamentary initiative called for the minimum period of residence in Switzerland required for foreigners to be able to vote and be elected in municipalities to be reduced from ten to five years. The three-year period of residence in the canton would have remained unchanged. The left and the liberal Greens supported the compromise that was narrowly approved by the Grand Council in February, while right-leaning parties opposed the move. Facilitation for small parties Vaud voters approved a separate proposal to allow small political parties easier access to the cantonal parliament. The 5% threshold ...