Swiss Abroad blame e-voting failure for falling turnout
E-voting has a greater impact with voters who live abroad, say experts.
Keystone-SDA
Around a third fewer Swiss expatriates have cast votes in their homeland since the suspension of an e-voting service. The Organisation for the Swiss Abroad (OSA) complains that the absence of digital voting represents a danger to democracy.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Português
pt
Fim do voto pela internet espanta suíços no exterior das urnas
A pilot project to allow e-voting in some cantons was abandoned in 2019 amid technical and security concerns of the system run by Swiss Post. Since then, the number of Swiss expatriates voting in canton Geneva has fallen from 36% to 27%.
Political scientist Micha Germann, who researched Swiss e-voting at the University of Bath in Britain, the Geneva figures are applicable for the whole of Switzerland. “Across the cantons, this will probably lead to an average decline in voter turnout [among the Swiss abroad] of around a third,” she told Swiss public broadcaster SRFExternal link.
OSA Director Ariane Rustichelli is concerned about the development. “Our members have the feeling that it is uncommon for their opinion to be raised and taken into account in Switzerland,” she said. “It is very dangerous for our democracy when so many of our citizens think this of their own country.”
Political scientist Micha Germann is certain that a viable digital option would boost voter turnout among Swiss expatriates, even if it would likely have a limited impact among voters living in Switzerland. “I must emphasise that e-voting led to an increase in participation of between four and six percent among the Swiss abroad,” he said.
The OSA, which represents the interests of 760,000 Swiss citizens living abroad, has long campaigned for e-voting for its members. In 2018, it presented a petition with 11,000 signatures to the Swiss authorities calling for electronic voting to be made available by 2021.
Basel diocese files five claims of sexual abuse in Swiss Catholic Church
This content was published on
The diocese of Basel has received 141 reports of sexual abuse since the publication of a sweeping study on violations in the Catholic Church by the University of Zurich in 2023.
Swiss president calls for open markets and stable institutions in WEF speech
This content was published on
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was among speakers at the WEF in Davos to make the case for fair competition, a day after Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States.
Swiss film in competition at the 75th Berlinale has a shot at Golden Bear
This content was published on
The feature film La Cache by Lausanne screenwriter and director Lionel Baier has a chance of winning the Silver or Golden Bear at the 75th Berlinale, festival organisers said on Tuesday.
Swiss politician who shot at image of Jesus resigns from Liberal Green Party
This content was published on
Sanija Ameti, who caused controversy after shooting at an image of Jesus and Mary last September, has resigned from the Liberal Green Party.
Swiss campaigners gather enough signatures to submit ‘responsible business’ initiative
This content was published on
The Swiss people are set to vote again on the corporate responsibility of multinationals after campaigners collected 183,661 signatures in 14 days for their new 'responsible business' initiative.
Several Swiss municipalities and banks hit by cyberattack
This content was published on
Russian hackers attacked the websites of several Swiss municipalities and banks on Tuesday, just as the World Economic Forum (WEF), got under way in Davos.
Music strengthens brain connections in premature babies, Swiss study shows
This content was published on
In premature babies, music strengthens connections in certain areas of the brain, according to a years-long study by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG).
WEF gives Crystal Award to Beckham, Yamamoto and von Fürstenberg
This content was published on
The World Economic Forum in Davos handed out awards to UNICEF ambassador David Beckham, Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto and women's rights activist Diane von Fürstenberg.
Swiss CEOs betting on a strong domestic market in 2025
This content was published on
Swiss business leaders are optimistic about 2025, despite a world in crisis, says a new survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
This content was published on
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis have welcomed Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang to Bern
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.
Read more
More
Experts say Swiss e-vote system is improved, but not perfect
This content was published on
A proposed new online voting system in Switzerland still needs technical improvements, according to a report by independent experts.
E-voting suffers another setback amid expat Swiss concerns
This content was published on
The government has decided to suspend efforts to enshrine electronic voting in Swiss law, but it plans to continue trials using improved systems.
This content was published on
Ahead of parliamentary elections on October 20, swissinfo.ch looks at the third of the Swiss resident population that is disenfranchised.
This content was published on
The controversial issue of e-voting is back: Swiss Post, which had halted the development of a project in July 2019, now plans a platform ready for testing by 2021.
This content was published on
swissinfo.ch found a broad political spectrum represented by delegates at the recent Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Lugano. “When I left Switzerland in 1954 I did not have the right to vote. But since women’s suffrage was introduced in 1971 I have not missed a single ballot,” said Marianne Richardson from California. She is…
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.