Federal Council authorises use of online voting in the canton of Graubünden
At its meeting on 22 November 2023, the Federal Council granted the canton of Graubünden a basic licence to trial online voting in federal votes. The basic licence is valid for conducting online voting for a limited section of the electorate up to and including the popular vote held on 8 March 2026. At the same time, the Federal Chancellery granted the canton authorisation to hold the vote on 3 March 2024 online.
Federal Council authorises use of online voting in 2023 National Council elections
At its meeting on 16 August, the Federal Council granted the cantons of Basel-Stadt, St Gallen and Thurgau basic licences to trial online voting (e-voting) in the National Council elections on 22 October. The basic licences are valid for a limited section of the electorate.
Federal Council approves resumption of online voting trials
At its meeting on 3 March 2023, the Federal Council granted the cantons of Basel-Stadt, St Gallen and Thurgau basic licences for resuming trials with online voting (e-voting) in federal votes. The basic licences are valid for conducting online voting for a limited part of the electorate up to and including the vote on 18 May 2025. At the same time, the Federal Chancellery has granted its authorisation to hold the popular vote on 18 June 2023 online.
E-voting: New legislation comes into force
New legislation will apply from 1 July for the first stage of the redesign of e-voting trials. At its meeting on 25 May 2022, the Federal Council enacted the partially revised Ordinance on Political Rights (PoRO). The Federal Council also took note of the fact that the totally revised Federal Chancellery Ordinance on Electronic Voting (OEV) comes into force on the same date. This means cantons can once again apply to the Federal Council to offer e-voting on a trial basis.
E-voting: Results of the first independent examination available
The e-voting system currently being developed by Swiss Post has been significantly improved. However, further developments, some of them substantial, are still required. This is shown in the first independent examination reports of the experts commissioned by the Federal Chancellery. The results of the examination will help determine the further development of the system.
New legal basis for e-voting trials to be finalised by mid-2022
At its meeting on 10 December, the Federal Council took note of the results of the consultation procedure on the legislation governing online voting (e-voting). It decided that the two related ordinances should be finalised by mid-2022. The Federal Council intends to pursue some of the fundamental issues raised in the responses to the consultation in the longer term.
Federal government launches examination of new e-voting system
With consultations already underway on new federal provisions that define extensive security requirements for e-voting systems and their operation, some cantons are planning new trials with the redesigned Swiss Post e-voting system. The Confederation is therefore launching an independent examination of this system and its operation. This will take several months and will serve as a basis for deciding whether the cantons can relaunch trials with this system.
Redesign of e-voting trials: consultation procedure opened
At its meeting on 28 April 2021 the Federal Council decided to open the consul-tation procedure for the redesign of electronic voting trials. The Ordinance on Political Rights will undergo a partial revision and the Federal Chancellery Ordinance on Electronic Voting will be completely revised. This is intended to create a new, stable basis for e-voting trials.
e-voting: Federal Council launches redesign of trials
The cantons are again to be permitted to undertake limited trials with online voting using fully verifiable systems. This is the declared aim of the Federal Council, which on 18 December issued a decision on the redesign of e-voting trials. More precise security requirements, increased transparency, closer cooperation with independent experts and effective auditing on behalf of the Confederation will all contribute to ensuring the security of e-voting. There will be a consultation procedure on amending the statutory bases in 2021.
E-voting: outcomes from dialogue with experts guide future developments
The Confederation and the cantons have conducted broad-based discussions with experts in Switzerland and abroad on e-voting in this country. The outcomes of these discussions are now available, and will be incorporated in the legal and technical bases of the trial programme, which is currently under revision.
e-Voting: Dialogue with experts on redesigning the trial phase
If e-voting systems are to be used in popular votes and elections they must fulfil the highest security requirements. The federal government and the cantons are currently in the process of revising the requirements for such systems. To that end, they are working with Swiss and foreign experts from the fields of IT, cryptography and political science.
e-Voting: Federal Council to reframe trial phase and delay introduction as a regular voting channel
At its meeting on 26 June, the Federal Council decided to provisionally forgo introducing electronic voting into regular operation. In the consultation on the planned amendment to the Political Rights Act, the majority of respondents generally expressed support for e-voting, but considered its introduction into regular operation to be premature. In addition, the Federal Council commissioned the Federal Chancellery to amend the general conditions for future trials.
Federal Chancellery to review e-voting
The e-voting system operated by Swiss Post will not be available for the vote on 19 May. Following the recent public intrusion test the Federal Chancellery will be reviewing the licensing and certification procedures for e-voting systems.
Release of source code leads to discovery of flaw in Swiss Post’s new e-voting system
Researchers have uncovered a significant flaw in the new e-voting system of Swiss Post. The flaw concerns the system offering universal verifiability, which is currently undergoing a public intrusion test. It does not affect the system already being used in four cantons. The flaw does not allow the system to be intruded. The Federal Chancellery has urged Swiss Post to take appropriate measures to prevent such flaws.
Public intrusion test for e-voting to take place in February and March
Swiss Post is making its future e-voting system available for a public intrusion test from 25 February to 24 March. The e-voting system is the first Swiss system that can be fully verified. Interested hackers from all over the world are welcome to attack the system. In doing so, they will contribute to improving the system’s security.
