The Federal Council renews basic licences for online voting
Bern, 25.06.2025 — At its meeting on 25 June, the Federal Council decided to renew the basic licences of the Cantons of Basel Stadt, St Gallen, Graubünden and Thurgau for online voting trials in federal votes (e-voting). The basic licences are valid for a limited section of the electorate up to and including the vote on 6 June 2027. The Federal Chancellery will also issue authorisations for the vote on 28 September this year.
Today’s Federal Council decision enables the Cantons of Basel Stadt, St Gallen, Graubünden and Thurgau to continue running e-voting trials. Basel Stadt, St Gallen and Thurgau restarted trials in June 2023 and also used e-voting in the National Council elections on 22 October 2023. The Canton of Graubünden relaunched its e-voting trials in March 2024.
The cantons and the Federal Chancellery are satisfied with results of the trials to date. The ongoing examinations and development of the system and processes have proved effective. In cooperation with Swiss Post, the cantons have laid a solid foundation for continuing to operate and gradually expand e-voting trials.
Electronic voting will still be available to a limited section of the electorate in the four cantons. The renewal of the basic licences entitles the following voters to use the electronic voting channel:
- Canton of Basel Stadt: Swiss voters abroad; voters in Switzerland with a disability (upon registration).
- Canton of St Gallen: Swiss voters abroad; voters in Switzerland in e-voting communes (upon registration) up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the cantonal electorate.
- Canton of Graubünden: Swiss voters abroad and voters in Switzerland in e-voting communes (upon registration); voters in Switzerland up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the cantonal electorate.
- Canton of Thurgau: Swiss voters abroad; voters in Switzerland in e-voting communes (upon registration) up to a maximum of 30 per cent of the cantonal electorate (planned from March 2026).
In total, the cantons are asking for around 159,500 voters to be authorised to use e-voting on 28 September – 2.84 per cent of all Swiss voters. By gradually expanding the pilot to additional communes, the cantons are offering valuable support for the trials.
In accordance with cantonal law, the Canton of Graubünden will continue to use a largely paperless e-voting process. This means that people who register for electronic voting will receive the explanatory notes in electronic format only. However, they will still receive their polling card by post. This permits them to vote exclusively via the electronic voting channel. If they wish to cast their vote by post or in person at the ballot box, they can request to do so at their local commune. It is possible to register or deregister to vote online before each ballot.
The Canton of Thurgau is now also planning to phase in e-voting for citizens living in Switzerland. It has created the cantonal legislation required to offer largely paperless e-voting to voters in Switzerland. This will be designed in the same way as in the canton of Graubünden. Electronic voting is expected to be available to voters living in pilot communes in Thurgau from March 2026. As before, Swiss citizens abroad who are registered to vote in the canton of Thurgau will be able to vote electronically, by post or in person using the materials they receive by mail.
In addition to the basic licence issued by the Federal Council, the cantons require authorisation from the Federal Chancellery for each vote held. Based on the basic licences issued by the Federal Council, the Federal Chancellery has granted the Cantons of Basel Stadt, St Gallen, Graubünden and Thurgau authorisation for the vote on 28 September.
Independent examination of the Swiss Post system: Publication of examination reports