Small canton could allow foreigner votes

Tuesday, 20 February 2024 06:30

The small mountain canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden could be the first German speaking canton to give voting rights to foreigners and lower the voting age to 16.

The half-canton is due to introduce a new constitution which will cement those rights.

The document has had its first reading in the cantonal council. The voting changes survived the first round of votes, despite opposition from the Swiss People’s Party.

There are plenty of hurdles yet – all communes in the canton must vote on it and then it has to go to a people’s vote before it's adopted.

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