Swiss vote for same sex partners to have equal tax & pension rights

Swiss voters go to the polls today to vote to end passport checks on the country's border by 2007 (i.e join the Shengen Agreement).

They also have the chance to vote on whether to allow registration of same-sex partnerships, allowing them many of the same rights as married heterosexual couples.

Opinion polls indicated a majority of voters support the measure, which would mean that registered same-sex couples are treated the same as married couples for tax and pensions purposes.