Which municipality in Bern votes against Switzerland most often?

St. Stephan: on 38% of federal ballot proposals (2015–2026) its majority landed on the opposite side of the national result — the highest in Bern (municipalities of 1,000+ residents).

Aren't these just small villages with random results?

No. That is why only municipalities of at least 1,000 residents are counted, and the leaders diverge not narrowly but sharply — on average about 20 percentage points from the 50% line, and systematically in the same direction (they reject what Switzerland accepts). That is a real political pattern, not the statistical noise of a few ballots.

← Canton Bern overview

Ranking · Data 2015–2026 · Source: BFS

Municipalities in Bern that most often vote against the Swiss result

National ranking →

St. Stephan is the municipality in Bern that most often ends up on the opposite side of the national result: on 38% of federal ballot proposals (2015–2026) its own majority differed from Switzerland. Next are Buchholterberg (38%) and Rüschegg (37%). Only municipalities of at least 1,000 residents are counted. Source: FSO.

Ranking

BFS · 2015–2026

Rank	Municipality	Divergence	Residents
1	St. Stephan	38%	1'316
2	Buchholterberg	38%	1'584
3	Rüschegg	37%	1'728
4	Boltigen	35%	1'258
5	Unterlangenegg	35%	1'069
6	Linden	34%	1'272
7	Diemtigen	34%	2'307
8	Röthenbach im Emmental	34%	1'221
9	Bern	33%	138'562
10	Guggisberg	33%	1'487
11	Adelboden	32%	3'438
12	Erlenbach im Simmental	32%	1'709
13	Eggiwil	32%	2'438
14	Eriswil	32%	1'346
15	Biel/Bienne	31%	57'462
16	Frutigen	31%	7'136
17	Reichenbach im Kandertal	31%	3'850
18	Beatenberg	31%	1'210
19	Stocken-Höfen	31%	1'020
20	Affoltern im Emmental	30%	1'224
21	Dürrenroth	30%	1'075
22	Grindelwald	29%	3'942
23	Wimmis	29%	2'732
24	Wattenwil	29%	3'219
25	Wyssachen	29%	1'125
26	Rohrbach	28%	1'568
27	Reutigen	28%	1'393
28	Innertkirchen	28%	1'079
29	Lenk	28%	2'352
30	Lauperswil	28%	2'728
31	Blumenstein	28%	1'289
32	Sonvilier	27.3%	1'229
33	Arch	27%	1'713
34	Court	27%	1'387
35	Rüeggisberg	27%	1'756
36	Sigriswil	27%	4'943
37	Wynau	26%	1'694
38	Orvin	26%	1'284
39	Aeschi bei Spiez	26%	2'353
40	Wilderswil	26%	2'760
41	Signau	26%	2'684
42	Heimiswil	25.3%	1'619
43	Plateau de Diesse	25.3%	2'251
44	Madiswil	25%	3'383
45	Bowil	25%	1'316
46	Burgistein	25%	1'077
47	Rüderswil	25%	2'394
48	Trub	25%	1'277
49	Rüegsau	25%	3'278
50	Riggisberg	24.2%	3'078
51	Walkringen	24%	1'814
52	Hasliberg	24%	1'125
53	Lützelflüh	24%	4'406
54	Trubschachen	23.2%	1'536
55	Thörigen	23.2%	1'179
56	Tramelan	23%	4'670
57	La Neuveville	23%	3'781
58	Gsteig bei Gstaad	23%	1'036
59	Saanen	23%	6'967
60	Sumiswald	23%	5'234
61	Oberbipp	23%	1'979
62	Brienz	22.4%	3'264
63	Sonceboz-Sombeval	22.2%	1'874
64	Lauterbrunnen	22.2%	2'356
65	Huttwil	22.2%	5'206
66	Valbirse	22%	4'043
67	Nidau	22%	7'160
68	Zweisimmen	22%	3'083
69	Krattigen	21.2%	1'134
70	Kirchdorf	21.2%	1'859
71	Diessbach bei Büren	21%	1'064
72	Aefligen	21%	1'154
73	Péry-La Heutte	21%	1'957
74	Ferenbalm	21%	1'278
75	Uetendorf	21%	6'072
76	Niederbipp	20.2%	5'689
77	Melchnau	20%	1'485
78	Wynigen	20%	2'101
79	Müntschemier	20%	1'683
80	Bönigen	20%	2'771
81	Reconvilier	20%	2'454
82	Tavannes	20%	3'469
83	Thierachern	20%	2'574
84	Leissigen	19.2%	1'205
85	Bargen	19%	1'112
86	Seedorf	19%	3'280
87	Corgémont	19%	1'801
88	Saint-Imier	19%	5'144
89	Oberdiessbach	19%	3'776
90	Zäziwil	19%	1'665
91	Attiswil	19%	1'529
92	Heimberg	18.2%	7'200
93	Seeberg	18.2%	1'565
94	Kappelen	18%	1'413
95	Thunstetten	18%	3'621
96	Evilard	18%	2'706
97	Leuzigen	18%	1'377
98	Courtelary	17.2%	1'432
99	Wiedlisbach	17.2%	2'657
100	Krauchthal	17%	2'363
101	Walperswil	17%	1'036
102	Wald	17%	1'194
103	Heimenhausen	17%	1'199
104	Wangen an der Aare	17%	2'981
105	Aarwangen	16%	4'873
106	Bremgarten bei Bern	16%	4'462
107	Hasle bei Burgdorf	16%	3'414
108	Oberburg	16%	2'972
109	Ringgenberg	16%	2'647
110	Seftigen	16%	2'175
111	Meinisberg	15.3%	1'513
112	Pieterlen	15.2%	5'255
113	Kallnach	15%	2'238
114	Radelfingen	15%	1'271
115	Rapperswil	15%	2'755
116	Köniz	15%	43'923
117	Lengnau	15%	5'808
118	Ersigen	15%	2'004
119	Rüdtligen-Alchenflüh	15%	2'479
120	Kandersteg	15%	1'298
121	Orpund	15%	3'375
122	Safnern	15%	2'049
123	Uttigen	15%	2'170
124	Dotzigen	14%	1'587
125	Lyssach	14%	1'491
126	Gampelen	14%	1'047
127	Mühleberg	14%	3'184
128	Roggwil	13%	4'514
129	Ostermundigen	13%	18'432
130	Studen	13%	3'590
131	Twann-Tüscherz	13%	1'239
132	Erlach	12%	1'393
133	Wiler bei Utzenstorf	11%	1'036
134	Aegerten	11%	2'499
135	Brügg	11%	4'714
136	Worben	11%	2'678
137	Gerzensee	11%	1'320
138	Kaufdorf	11%	1'116
139	Hilterfingen	11%	4'130
140	Muri bei Bern	10%	13'940
141	Wohlen bei Bern	10%	9'310
142	Koppigen	10%	2'260
143	Ins	10%	3'800
144	Kiesen	10%	1'008
145	Meiringen	10%	4'791
146	Thurnen	10%	2'076
147	Langnau im Emmental	10%	9'645
148	Steffisburg	10%	16'599
149	Kirchlindach	9.1%	3'342
150	Meikirch	9%	2'615
151	Lotzwil	9%	2'841
152	Büren an der Aare	9%	3'779
153	Bäriswil	9%	1'124
154	Hindelbank	9%	2'805
155	Matten bei Interlaken	9%	4'196
156	Unterseen	9%	5'750
157	Grosshöchstetten	9%	4'191
158	Konolfingen	9%	5'469
159	Ipsach	9%	3'873
160	Spiez	9%	13'332
161	Grossaffoltern	8%	3'056
162	Bolligen	8%	6'348
163	Vechigen	8%	6'070
164	Burgdorf	8%	17'577
165	Fraubrunnen	8%	5'525
166	Wichtrach	8%	4'510
167	Sutz-Lattrigen	8%	1'409
168	Oberhofen am Thunersee	8%	2'553
169	Thun	8%	44'163
170	Ittigen	7%	11'482
171	Kirchberg	7%	5'918
172	Münsingen	7%	13'003
173	Rubigen	7%	2'876
174	Schwarzenburg	7%	6'797
175	Kehrsatz	7%	4'663
176	Toffen	7%	2'697
177	Niederönz	7%	1'784
178	Biglen	6.1%	1'879
179	Aarberg	6%	4'601
180	Schüpfen	6%	3'778
181	Stettlen	6%	3'413
182	Zollikofen	6%	11'842
183	Bätterkinden	6%	3'413
184	Jegenstorf	6%	5'883
185	Münchenbuchsee	6%	10'751
186	Interlaken	6%	6'123
187	Worb	6%	11'600
188	Neuenegg	6%	5'805
189	Täuffelen	6%	3'070
190	Frauenkappelen	5.1%	1'486
191	Lyss	5%	16'613
192	Moosseedorf	5%	4'134
193	Utzenstorf	5%	4'504
194	Laupen	5%	3'306
195	Bellmund	5%	1'805
196	Langenthal	4%	16'233
197	Port	4%	3'976
198	Urtenen-Schönbühl	3%	6'632
199	Belp	3%	11'739
200	Herzogenbuchsee	1%	7'620

Popular votes (sd-t-17-02) 2015–2026 · Federal Statistical Office (FSO), retrieved 03.08.2026

How we measure this

BFS

Share of federal ballot proposals (2015–2026) on which the municipality's own majority landed on the opposite side of the Swiss-wide result (yes vs no). Based on the FSO ballot results across every proposal in the period; only municipalities that took part in at least 50 proposals are ranked. Municipal ties (exactly 50%) count neither for nor against. Only municipalities of at least 1,000 residents appear: in very small municipalities a few votes can flip the majority, so genuine political distinctiveness could not be reliably separated from chance. The top ranks are nonetheless not an artefact — the municipalities involved diverge deeply (around 20 percentage points) and in a consistent direction, not narrowly and at random.

Frequently asked questions

Which municipality in Bern votes against Switzerland most often?: St. Stephan: on 38% of federal ballot proposals (2015–2026) its majority landed on the opposite side of the national result — the highest in Bern (municipalities of 1,000+ residents).
Aren't these just small villages with random results?: No. That is why only municipalities of at least 1,000 residents are counted, and the leaders diverge not narrowly but sharply — on average about 20 percentage points from the 50% line, and systematically in the same direction (they reject what Switzerland accepts). That is a real political pattern, not the statistical noise of a few ballots.