Disabled Swiss to vote online for first time

Whoever wants to vote online will have to prove that they can't vote using traditional methods Keystone

In a nationwide first, people with disabilities in the canton of Basel City will be able to vote online in popular initiatives held on June 5. The cabinet approved a request by the canton on Friday. 

The Federal Chancellery says whoever wants to vote online will have to prove to the cantonal authorities that they are unable to vote using traditional methods. 

Basel City estimates that around 400 men and women will register to take advantage of the new option. 

The government maintains that it wants to expand the use of e-voting, but progress is slow. On Tuesday, the Senate rejected a proposal to set a 2019 deadline for cantonal authorities to introduce e-voting for the registered Swiss expat community. 

In parliamentary elections in October, only the 34,000 Swiss expats who were registered with the cantonal authorities of Geneva, Neuchâtel, Basel City and Lucerne were able to use e-voting, instead of 85,000 as initially planned. 

This was because the government ordered nine other cantons to suspend e-voting due to technical issues.