Two Referendums Split Vaud on Rights and Rules
In a Sunday vote, the canton of Vaud saw a rare split verdict on two propositions aimed at reshaping political participation. Voters rejected a measure to shorten the residency period required for foreigners to obtain voting and eligibility rights at the communal level, while approving a reform to how the electoral quorum is calculated for elections. Turnout hovered around 46% for both questions.
Communal voting rights for foreigners
The first question sought to cut the residency requirements that currently grant non-Swiss residents a say in local affairs. The proposal would have lowered the threshold to five years of residence in Switzerland, with at least three in the Vaud canton. In the end, the electorate chose to maintain the status quo, with the proposal defeated by a 54.15% majority. The result reflects a cautious stance among many voters on expanding political rights to non-citizens at the municipal level.
Electoral-quorum reform
The second proposal concerned the calculation of the electoral quorum, a technical issue with broad implications for smaller political formations. A notable feature of the vote was the unusually high rate of blank ballots, which reached 10.01% of all ballots. This circumstance helped the measure receive support even though the yes share fell below the 50% mark when considering all ballots cast. Specifically, the proposal to allow allied lists to sum their votes to surpass the 5% quorum threshold was approved by 47.43% of ballots cast, while a majority of blank votes and non-voters effectively shaped the outcome in favor of the reform.
Under the new rule, lists that appear together in elections can combine their votes to cross the 5% hurdle, rather than each list needing to meet the threshold on its own. The reform is set to apply beginning with the municipal elections on March 8, and is expected to give a boost to small centrist and radical-left formations that often struggle to reach the 5% barrier solo.
Urban and rural contrasts
Results varied across the canton. Lausanne gave a clear 60% approval for the quorum reform, signaling urban support for more flexible coalition-building, while Montreux, Aigle and Payerne rejected the measure. A notable example of local ambivalence was Mauraz, a tiny municipality with just 40 registered voters, where 61.9% backed the reform (13 yes, 7 no, 1 blank). Such disparate outcomes illustrate the divided landscape Vaud voters face when confronting technical reforms with potential long-term consequences for parliamentary seat allocation.
Foreign-vote rights map in Vaud
On the question of extending political rights to foreigners, the canton’s political map is more uniform. Only Lausanne, Vevey and a cluster of small communes supported the constitutional modification to shorten residency requirements. Since 2003, non-Swiss residents may participate in local matters after ten years in the country and three years of domicile in the canton. The Sunday vote kept this framework intact, delaying any expansion until another consultative moment.
What comes next
Vaud residents will confront a second related decision on November 30, when voters will be asked to weigh in on extending voting rights and eligibility to foreigners at the cantonal level. The outcome of that vote will shape the broader inclusivity of political participation beyond the municipal sphere and could alter the balance of representation in the cantonal parliament.
Looking ahead for Vaud’s political landscape
In a political environment characterized by divided opinions and technical questions, the canton’s recent ballots highlight a nuanced approach to reform. While many voters favored preserving established residency rules for foreigners, they were more amenable to adjustments in how votes are counted to ensure smaller parties can compete more effectively. The simultaneous batch of results underscores Vaud’s ongoing negotiation between inclusivity and local governance realities.
