Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Plans for permanent e-vote option put to consultation

A Swiss ballot paper and a keyboard
Trials with a limited number of voters have taken place in Switzerland since 2004. Keystone

The Swiss government is going ahead with plans to introduce the option of permanent electronic voting, defying criticism by opponents over security issues.

A draft bill has been approved and will be sent for consultation to political parties, the cantons and other organisations and institutions, according to a statement on Wednesday by the Federal Chancellery.

A final proposal is subject to approval by parliament at a later stage.

The government says it wants to pursue its policy of a gradual introduction of e-voting as an additional possibility besides the postal vote or at the ballot box. In June, the chancellery announced it was mandated to draft a consultation paper. 

More than 300 trials with a limited scope have been carried out successfully over the past 14 years, according to the chancellery.

However, critics argue the electronic voting channel can be manipulated and moves are underway to launch an initiative aimed at a five-year moratorium, following a defeat in parliament earlier this year.

The Swiss Abroad community has been pushing for e-voting to be made available to all citizens living overseas by 2021. 

+ The e-voting petition by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad

Currently expat Swiss from ten of the country’s 26 cantons are eligible for e-voting.

More
Ein Mann sitzt mit Laptop und Katze auf dem Sofa

More

Ten arguments for and against e-voting

This content was published on Is voting online a big step forwards or backwards? Opinion in Switzerland about the use of electronic voting is divided.

Read more: Ten arguments for and against e-voting

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

No Swiss bank in phase with environmental objectives

More

Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF

This content was published on None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.

Read more: Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF
UNRWA provides emergency assistance to just over one million Palestine refugees, or about 75 per cent of all Palestine refugees in Gaza, who lack the financial means to cover their basic food.

More

Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

This content was published on The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.

Read more: Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR