Geneva voters approve religious-symbol ban for elected officials, Sunday shop opening

Religious symbols ban

The constitutional amendment prohibits visible religious signs (headscarves, kippahs, crosses) for members of the Grand Conseil (cantonal parliament) and municipal councils. It was backed by right-leaning parties, including the Swiss People’s Party, the Radical-Liberals and the Centre, arguing for institutional secularism. Left-wing parties and the LJS movement opposed the measure, contending that elected representatives are not state employees and that the ban restricts fundamental freedoms. Feminist and anti-racist groups criticised the law as systematic harassment of Muslim women.

Sunday shop opening

Voters also approved a legislative change allowing Geneva shops to open on up to two Sundays per year and on 31 December, without requiring a sector-wide collective labour agreement. The measure was sponsored by right-wing and business federations to support local retail against online competition and cross-border shopping. Trade unions and left parties fought the reform, warning it would lead to deterioration of working conditions and the normalisation of Sunday labour. The law provides that work will be voluntary and employees will receive equivalent salary compensation.

Results and turnout

Final results showed 51.37% yes for the religious-symbol ban and 52.8% yes for the Sunday opening law. Early postal-vote counts indicated a narrow margin for the symbols ban; the in-person ballot did not reverse the trend. Turnout was 51.5%, in line with typical cantonal referendums.