What are the main themes of the votes on 27 September?

Voters in nine Swiss cantons will be called to the polls to decide on reforms affecting the economy, civil rights and social policies. The topics range from spatial planning to training, including issues related to contraception, hooliganism and infrastructure for cross-border mobility. In particular, there will be a vote on tax cuts in the Canton of Vaud and on civil rights in Graubünden.

What is the mobility credit in Geneva?

The loan proposed in Geneva amounts to CHF 39.5 million. The investment is intended to co-finance infrastructure in French territory, including 1,600 new parking spaces in P+R car parks, preferential bus lanes and the expansion of the tram network. The declared operational objective is the reduction of 15,000 vehicles per day on the roads of the Canton.

What are the options for Basel Territorial Planning Campaign?

In Basel Countryside, the vote concerns the law on the compensation of capital gains deriving from spatial planning, following a judgment of the Federal Court. Voters will have to choose between an initiative of the Land Owners' Association (HEV), which aims at minimum contributions and stringent limits, and a Grand Council counterproject that provides for slightly higher contributions.

What will be voted on in Bern and Graubünden?

In the canton of Bern, a popular initiative calls for the inclusion of the right to quality education in the cantonal constitution, obliging the canton and municipalities to guarantee high-level education. In the Canton of Graubünden, the proposal concerns the extension of voting rights to 16-year-olds.

Is there a debate about contraception in Geneva?

Yes, in Geneva there will be a vote on a PS initiative for free contraception. The left and the Centre support the text, while the Council of State, together with PLR, MCG and UDC, contests it, considering it insufficiently targeted at the lower income groups and potentially expensive.

Voting in nine cantons: tax and voting mobility (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 20 September 2026

Voters queuing outside a Swiss government building for the September 27 cantonal elections

On Sunday, September 27, nine cantons are voting: tax in Vaud, contraception in Geneva and cross-border mobility of 39.5 million.

Context

In brief

Votes in nine Cantons on Sunday, September 27
Themes: taxation, civil rights, education, and mobility
Focus on tax cuts in Vaud and the vote on 16-year-olds' voting rights in Graubünden
Investments for cross-border mobility in Geneva

Key facts

Date: September 27 Locations: Nine Cantons Geneva mobility credit: 39.5 million Swiss francs Geneva traffic target: -15,000 vehicles per day

On Sunday, September 27, voters in nine Swiss Cantons will be called to the polls to decide on a series of reforms affecting the economy, civil rights, and social policies. The consultations cover a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from land use planning to education, including issues related to contraception, hooliganism, and infrastructure for cross-border mobility.

The main cantonal consultations

Among the most relevant themes are the initiative for a substantial reduction in taxes in the Canton of Vaud and the proposal to extend the right to vote to 16-year-olds in the Canton of Graubünden. In Basel-Country, the vote will concern the law on compensation for capital gains from land use planning, following a Federal Court ruling that found part of the current regulation non-compliant. In this case, voters will have to choose between an initiative by the Association of Landowners (HEV), which aims for minimal contributions and strict limits on the use of funds, and a counter-proposal by the Grand Council that provides for slightly higher contributions.

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Operational details

Analysis of Tax and Social Reforms

The votes scheduled for September 27th reveal a divergence in approaches among the various Cantons, particularly regarding the management of public finances and social services. In the Canton of Vaud, the call for a substantial tax reduction represents an attempt to lighten the tax burden on taxpayers, a theme with direct implications for the purchasing power of residents. This contrasts with the situation in Basel-Country, where the debate shifts to the redistribution of land-use planning surpluses, highlighting the tension between the interests of landowners (HEV) and the funding needs of municipalities.

On the front of civil rights and health, the Socialist Party's (PS) initiative in Geneva for free contraception raises questions about equity in access to sexual health. While the left and the Centre support the text, the Council of State, along with the PLR, MCG, and UDC, contests the proposal, deeming it not sufficiently targeted at lower-income brackets and potentially costly. This debate reflects the complexity of implementing social subsidies in a system where the efficiency of public spending is constantly monitored.

Impact on Mobility and Infrastructure

A case of particular relevance for those commuting between Switzerland and France is the proposed credit of 39.5 million francs in Geneva. The investment is intended to co-finance infrastructure in French territory, including 1,600 new parking spaces in P+R facilities, bus priority lanes, and the expansion of the tram network. The operational goal is to reduce daily traffic by 15,000 vehicles on the roads of the Canton. This project demonstrates how traffic management and pollution require coordinated cross-border solutions to improve urban quality of life.

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Key points

Operational Guide for the Voter and Taxpayer

For residents of the nine involved Cantons, the voting procedure for Sunday, September 27, follows the standard modalities of cantonal consultation. Voters will receive the informational material and ballot papers at their home address. It is fundamental to carefully read the differences between the popular initiative and any potential counter-proposal, as in the case of Basel-Country, where the option proposed by the Grand Council differs in the amount of contributions requested compared to the proposal by the HEV.

For those interested in tax reforms, especially in the Canton of Vaud, it is advisable to analyze their current tax situation. Since the Swiss tax system is structured on three levels (federal, cantonal, and municipal), a reduction in cantonal taxes can significantly vary the net annual amount depending on the municipal multiplier applied. Those wishing to plan their budget in view of potential tax changes can use simulation tools to forecast the actual savings.

Steps for Cost and Mobility Analysis

1. Verify membership in one of the nine Cantons that will vote on September 27. 2. Consult the voting booklet to understand the implications of the 39.5 million franc credit for mobility in Geneva, if you reside or work in that area. 3. Evaluate the impact of the proposals on education or health (free contraception) based on your family and income profile. 4. Monitor the decisions of the Federal Court that have led to new votes, as happened with land planning in Basel-Country.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main themes of the votes on 27 September?: Voters in nine Swiss cantons will be called to the polls to decide on reforms affecting the economy, civil rights and social policies. The topics range from spatial planning to training, including issues related to contraception, hooliganism and infrastructure for cross-border mobility. In particular, there will be a vote on tax cuts in the Canton of Vaud and on civil rights in Graubünden.
What is the mobility credit in Geneva?: The loan proposed in Geneva amounts to CHF 39.5 million. The investment is intended to co-finance infrastructure in French territory, including 1,600 new parking spaces in P+R car parks, preferential bus lanes and the expansion of the tram network. The declared operational objective is the reduction of 15,000 vehicles per day on the roads of the Canton.
What are the options for Basel Territorial Planning Campaign?: In Basel Countryside, the vote concerns the law on the compensation of capital gains deriving from spatial planning, following a judgment of the Federal Court. Voters will have to choose between an initiative of the Land Owners' Association (HEV), which aims at minimum contributions and stringent limits, and a Grand Council counterproject that provides for slightly higher contributions.
What will be voted on in Bern and Graubünden?: In the canton of Bern, a popular initiative calls for the inclusion of the right to quality education in the cantonal constitution, obliging the canton and municipalities to guarantee high-level education. In the Canton of Graubünden, the proposal concerns the extension of voting rights to 16-year-olds.
Is there a debate about contraception in Geneva?: Yes, in Geneva there will be a vote on a PS initiative for free contraception. The left and the Centre support the text, while the Council of State, together with PLR, MCG and UDC, contests it, considering it insufficiently targeted at the lower income groups and potentially expensive.