Article: Cantons Hold Key to Swiss U.N. Membership Vote

Opinion polls show a majority of Swiss voters are in favour of joining the United Nations, but the vote could go the other way, local media reported on Friday.

For Swiss membership of the U.N. to go ahead, a simple majority of the popular vote is not enough. A majority of Switzerland's 26 cantons have to say yes as well, according to Swiss constitutional requirements.

In central Switzerland, traditionally a conservative part of the country, some cantons like Zug and Uri look set to reject the U.N., while polls from canton Lucerne show opinion is fairly evenly split.

Campaigning in the swing cantons like Lucerne has been especially intense, as both sides try to mobilize every vote.

The local ...

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