Should full facial coverings be banned in public places?
VoteWorld community
VoteWorld community: 6
Official result — Switzerland
Official result — Switzerland: 2788094
Official Swiss vote totals are shown separately from live VoteWorld votes. Official source: https://swissvotes.ch/vote/638.00. Imported: 2026-05-30.
More info
Banned full face coverings in public spaces such as streets, public transport, shops, restaurants, and government buildings.
Allowed exceptions for:
Health reasons (e.g. medical masks),
Safety or protective equipment,
Weather conditions,
Traditional or cultural events,
Places of worship.
Arguments for:
Public safety is improved when people can be identified.
Arguments against:
It could restrict religious freedom and personal choice.
Existing laws already dealt with security concerns.
Seed source: Swissvotes federal popular vote dataset.
Swissvotes page: https://swissvotes.ch/vote/638.00
Official result data: https://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20210307/can638.html
Vote date: 2021-03-07
Original Swissvotes English title: Initiative for a ban on full facial coverings
Original German title: Initiative für ein Verhüllungsverbot
Swissvotes keyword/additional content: «Burka-Initiative»
Swissvotes short-description title: Verhüllungsverbot kommt durch – mit viel Sukkurs aus der politischen Mitte und der Romandie
Original French title: Initiative pour l’interdiction de se dissimuler le visage
Official English explanatory information: https://web.archive.org/web/20210307085257/https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/votes/20210307/popular-initiative-yes-to-a%20ban-on-full-facial-coverings.html
Official German explanatory information: https://web.archive.org/web/20210201122248/https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/abstimmungen/20210307/volksinitiative-ja-zum-verhuellungsverbot.html
Official French explanatory information: https://web.archive.org/web/20210301150627/https://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil/documentation/votations/20210307/initiative-populaire-oui-a-l-interdiction-de-se-dissimuler-le-visage.html
Année Politique Suisse description: https://anneepolitique.swiss/prozesse/1286
Department information (German): https://web.archive.org/web/20210208133120/https://www.ejpd.admin.ch/ejpd/de/home/themen/abstimmungen/verhuellungsverbot.html
Department information (French): https://web.archive.org/web/20210305072628/https://www.ejpd.admin.ch/ejpd/fr/home/themes/abstimmungen/verhuellungsverbot.html
Federal office information (German): https://web.archive.org/web/20210225112439/https://www.ejpd.admin.ch/bj/de/home/gesellschaft/gesetzgebung/verhuellungsverbot.html