Switzerland is holding a referendum today to seek popular support for modernising the constitution.

Under the Swiss system, constitutional change can be effected only with the consent of the people.

They are being asked to remove many outdated and irrelevant provisions and to include several basic rights, which are already guaranteed, although not witten into the constitution.

Right-wing parties have expressed objections to some of the proposed new provisions such as the right to strike and the right to equality. The BBC Geneva correspondent says the turnout is expected to be one of the lowest ever, because the changes will have little impact on peoples' lives.