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Switzerland’s cantons delivered a patchwork of local decisions on Sunday as voters in Solothurn, Bern, Aargau, St. Gallen, Graubünden, Thurgau and central Swiss communities cast ballots on municipal issues ranging from budgets to infrastructure projects. According to SRF’s rolling coverage, the most closely watched result—a nationwide vote to tighten access to civilian service—was already pointing toward approval with 53 percent in favor as of midday, based on the broadcaster’s projection .
In Solothurn, where dozens of municipalities held votes, the city of Olten approved a CHF 12 million loan for a new sports hall while neighboring Grenchen rejected a CHF 8 million levy for school renovations by a razor-thin margin of 51 to 49 percent . The canton’s capital, Solothurn city, endorsed a CHF 23 million package for public transport upgrades, reflecting strong turnout in urban centers. Rural communes such as Balsthal and Oensingen, by contrast, saw lower participation on issues like road maintenance and local tax adjustments.
Bern’s municipalities produced mixed signals: the city of Thun passed a CHF 15 million green-energy bond, while Interlaken voters narrowly defeated a proposal to cap tourist bed capacity at 12,000, with 52 percent opposed . In Aargau, Baden’s residents approved a CHF 30 million cultural center but turned down a CHF 7 million subsidy for local start-ups by 54 to 46 percent . St. Gallen’s results showed a clear urban-rural split, with the city backing a CHF 20 million digital inclusion fund while rural Wil opted against a CHF 5 million agricultural support scheme .
Graubünden’s alpine communities delivered the most dramatic upset: Chur, the canton’s largest town, voted down a CHF 18 million climate adaptation plan by 55 to 45 percent, defying expectations of strong environmental support . In Thurgau, Frauenfeld approved a CHF 10 million cycling highway while Kreuzlingen narrowly rejected a CHF 6 million harbor revitalization . Central Switzerland’s results, compiled from Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden, showed Luzern city endorsing a CHF 25 million university expansion but rural Engelberg voting down a CHF 4 million ski-lift safety upgrade .
Nationally, the Zivildienstgesetz outcome—if confirmed—would mark the first tightening of civilian service access since 2013, requiring prospective volunteers to demonstrate prior social or ecological engagement before eligibility . Turnout across cantons hovered between 38 and 47 percent, with urban areas generally exceeding rural participation. Detailed municipal breakdowns are available on SRF’s interactive map, which aggregates results by commune and issue .