1. Bundeskanzlei BK Sektion Politische Rechte e-voting – the Swiss experience CoE: e-voting review meeting Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006

2. 2 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Topics What is meant by „e-voting“? What happened so far? Next steps?

3. 3 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Introduction: Definition of e-voting Electronic voting - refers to the option of using electronic means to vote in referendums and elections. including: popular votes (at least 4 times a year…) elections electronic signature of referendums, initiatives and candidate proposals (  in the future)

4. 4 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Introduction: Definition of e-voting e-voting as an additional means of voting < 20% > 80% focus on remote e-voting

5. 5 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK E-voting in Switzerland: Review 1998Federal Council mentions in the „Strategie für eine Informationsgesellschaft“ that the feasibility of e-voting should be examined. 2000Parliament asks for feasibility study on e-voting. Federal Chancellery is mandated to do the feasibility study.

6. 6 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK E-voting in Switzerland: Review 2002Federal Council adopts report on chances, risks and feasibilty of e-voting in Switzerland. This report is subsequently discussed in Parliament.  in order to do a thorough feasibility study, pilot trials are initiated in the cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich (in co-operation with Federal Chancellery). Parliament adopts legal basis for pilot trials.

7. 7 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Pilot Trials DateCanton/CommunesExtent of trial Nr. of electronic votes (share of all votes as %) 26.09.04Genf: Anières, Carouge, Cologny, Meyrin 22'137 eligible voters 2'723 (21.8%) 28.11.04Genf: Anières, Carouge, Cologny, Collonge-Bellerive, Meyrin, Onex, Vandoeuvres, Versoix 41'431 eligible voters 3'755 (22.4%) 25.09.05Neuenburg1'732 eligible voters* 1'178 (68.0%) 27.11.05Zürich: Bertschikon, Bülach, Schlieren 16'726 eligible voters 1'154 (of which 243 by text message) (22.1%) 27.11.05Neuenburg2'469 eligible voters* 1'345 (55.1%) * Users of the official "Guichet unique" electronic office.

8. 8 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Pilot Trials: Voter Turnout e-voting would primarily replace postal voting It could attract a small number of abstainers, mainly among younger people and voters who do not participate regularly It could lead to a moderate increase in voter participation

9. 9 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Pilot Trials: Cost-effectiveness Assuming that several cantons operate an e-voting system together, and that those processes which are common to all forms of referendum (such as, for example, the printing of the voting permits, the creation of the voting register, the checking of voting rights etc.) feed into a cantonal or supra-cantonal election and referendum system, the implementation of e-voting would be more cost-effective than postal voting.

10. 10 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK E-voting in Switzerland: prospects 200631.05.2006: Federal Council adopts evaluation report on e-voting pilot trials. It would like to see the progressive introduction of e-voting in Switzerland. 26.11.2006: further trials in Neuchâtel and Zurich. 2007Parliamentary debates on the future of e-voting in Switzerland.

11. 11 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK E-voting in Switzerland: prospects In the medium to long term the Federal Council, with the approval of Parliament, wishes to initiate the following steps: Allow further cantons to implement their own projects (without financial support). Enable e-voting for the Swiss Abroad. In order to ensure participation in e-voting, every canton would first have to create a central register of Swiss Nationals Abroad.

12. 12 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK E-voting in Switzerland: prospects In the medium to long term the Federal Council, with the approval of Parliament, wishes to initiate the following steps: The electronic signing of popular initiatives, referendums and candidature nominations for elections to the National Council is still a long way off. The use of digital signatures is a prerequisite, but these are not yet in wide use in Switzerland.

13. 13 E-Voting: Swiss experience | Strasbourg, 23-24.11.2006 Nadja Braun, Bundeskanzlei BK Closing remarks E-voting is feasible in Switzerland Step-by-step approach is still the best way forward. E-voting has only a chance of being introduced if all those involved – voters, politicians and authorities – have a lasting acceptance of and trust in the new procedures.

14. Bundeskanzlei BK Sektion Politische Rechte Thank you! nadja.braun@bk.admin.ch