Proposals by centre-left parties to give foreigners in Basel and Bern the right to vote at a cantonal or local level have failed at the ballot box.
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Two separate initiatives in canton Basel City were rejected by 61 and 81 per cent respectively on Sunday. Had they been accepted foreigners would have been granted the right to vote and put themselves forward for political office.
In canton Bern, a proposal to introduce suffrage for foreigners at a local level was thrown out by 72 per cent of voters.
Less than ten of the country’s 26 cantons have granted non-Swiss residents the right to vote at a cantonal or local level.
Neuchâtel and Jura are at the forefront of efforts to extend full democratic rights to foreigners.
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In the German-speaking part of the country, this is largely only possible once Swiss citizenship has been obtained. On September 26, Bern and Basel will decide on whether to follow the Swiss-French lead and allow foreigners the vote. With the exception of Valais, all the western Swiss cantons have introduced voting rights for foreigners. Neuchâtel…
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