Foreign residents in Vaud will not get cantonal voting rights; Swiss police will use five different skin colours to describe offenders; and more news in our roundup on Monday.
Vaud refuses to grant its foreigners the right to vote
Not only were the two subjects brought to a national referendum – obligatory civic duty and tax for the super-rich – soundly rejected at the polls on Sunday (by 70.6 and 87 percent of voters, respectively) but another key issue, that of political rights for longtime foreign residents, was also turned down in a cantonal vote in Vaud.
Two-thirds (63.6 percent) of voters refused to grant foreign nationals who have resided in Switzerland for at least 10 years and in Vaud for three, the right to vote and to be elected at the cantonal level.
Swiss police will use five different skin colours to categorise offenders
From January 1st, 2026, the government will be modernising the national Ripol search system, which centralises reports related to missing, wanted, deported, or dangerous persons.
The Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) announced in a press release on Saturday that the following five options for the offenders’ skin colour will be included: very light, light, medium, dark, or very dark.
As for the ‘type’ category, it will be covered by nine options, corresponding to geographical regions – namely Northern Europe, North Africa, Asia, and South America.
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Changes you can expect in Switzerland from today
December 1st this year is not only the beginning of a new week, but of a new month as well.
You can expect these changes, starting today:
Motorway vignette goes on sale
As it does each year, the 2026 motorway toll sticker will go on sale on December 1st,
It will still cost 40 francs, for both the paper and digital version.
The current, 2025, sticker is valid until December 31st, though a ‘grace period’ of 30 extra days is given, so you won’t be slapped with a 200-franc fine for not having one until February 1st.
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New provisions concerning the protection of personal data will come into force
These rules clarify how information that can identify an individual may be processed, transmitted, or stored, particularly by authorities and companies subject to Swiss law.
They aim to guarantee the transparent and proportionate use of this data and to strengthen the rights of the individuals concerned.
New pesticide law
New requirements will apply to the registration of plant protection products. Active substances and pesticides will become subject to stricter risk assessment criteria, particularly regarding human health, groundwater, and biodiversity.
Authorisation procedures will also be adapted to better align the Swiss system with international standards. Before being approved, each product will have to demonstrate that it does not present unacceptable risks, and certain substances may be withdrawn from the market altogether if their toxicological profiles no longer meet the new standards.
READ ALSO: Everything that changes about life in Switzerland in December 2025
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