Five years ago, this approval, carried out by secret ballot, was declared illegal by the country's Supreme Court, which deemed such an approach discriminatory. But, as BBC reports, many Swiss say that the inability to have a say on citizenship applicants violates the country's established system of direct democracy.
The referendum was initiated by the nationalist Swiss People's Party. Opponents of today's vote say its goal is not a return to direct democracy, but an attempt to keep certain groups away from the country.
Switzerland is a leader among European countries in the number of foreigners, who make up more than 20% of the total population. Today, the rules for obtaining Swiss citizenship are quite strict. It requires living in the country for 12 years and passing a test on knowledge of the Swiss language and culture. Children born in the country do not automatically receive Swiss citizenship.
Another stage was the discussion of the applicant at a meeting of local community representatives. The Supreme Court abolished this procedure after it was found that in some cities, potential citizens from the Balkans, Turkey, and Africa were constantly rejected, while candidates from Western Europe were approved. The court also granted those who had been denied citizenship the right to appeal the decision.