E-voting: Switzerland's projects and their legal framework – in a European context

Abstract

Firstly, the reader is introduced to the Swiss political system, which can be described as a federalist state with direct democracy. Secondly, the Swiss e-voting pilot projects will be presented, against the background of the political system. Switzerland runs three pilot projects in order to test the feasibility of e- voting. In a third part the legal framework of e-voting in Switzerland is highlighted. In a fourth part the work of the Council of Europe is addressed. A last part contains Recommendations to the Swiss legislator. Today, the legal scheme allows for pilot projects. Should e-voting be introduced in Switzerland, the legal basis has to be adapted, taking into account the experience acquired through the pilot projects, and the Council of Europe's Recommendation on e-voting.