Switzerland Votes on Referendum to Cap Population Growth.

Switzerland is holding a referendum today on a proposal that would limit the country's population to no more than 10 million people by 2050. The constitutional amendment vote was initiated by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which holds the largest group in the lower house of parliament. The proposal reflects concerns about immigration, pressure on public services and housing, Reuters reports.

Swiss voters are deciding whether the country's population should exceed 10 million people. According to official forecasts, Switzerland's population, already above 9 million, is expected to surpass the 10-million mark early in the next decade, shortly after 2040.

The referendum, which has been compared to the United Kingdom's vote a decade ago to leave the European Union (EU), could force the Swiss Confederation to abandon its agreement with the EU on the free movement of workers, Reuters notes. Such a move could affect the Swiss economy, as many people working in the Alpine nation come from EU member states.

Several opinion polls indicate that the initiative is likely to be rejected. Results are expected to begin arriving around midday (1:00 p. m. Polls show similar trends, with more than 40% in favor but over 50% opposed.

For this reason, Switzerland's government and parliament have urged citizens to vote against the proposal.