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E-voting or postal voting: how did you participate in the Swiss federal elections?

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Emigration, returning to Switzerland, family, education, pensions, banking, insurance... I care about Swiss people living abroad and inform them about the issues that concern them. Passionate about languages and cultures, my career path took a short turn through marketing and assistant work before crossing the road into journalism, in a job that allows me to converse with people from all over the world.

In the cantons of Basel City, St Gallen and Thurgau, Swiss Abroad voters could cast their ballot electronically in October 22 federal elections.

For the rest of the population, postal voting was as usual the norm.

Did you vote electronically? What do you think of the system? Or if you voted by post, did you receive your voting material on time to be able to send it back again? 

Let us know about your experiences, whether positive or negative (and don’t forget to specify your canton of origin)!

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Contributions must adhere to our guidelines. If you have questions or wish to suggest other ideas for debates, please, get in touch!
Patricia
Patricia
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

I am Swiss in Chile. I voted in Canton Aargau. The printed ballot does not arrive in time. Impossible to arrive in time for the count.

Soy Suiza en Chile. Votó en cantón Argovia. No llega a tiempo el voto impreso. Imposible que llege a tiempo para el recuento.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I am a Swiss living in italy, a neighbouring country. I am registered on the CH electoral list and do take part in voting . Unfortunately due to the slowness of the Italian post, the documents often miss the deadline.

Cecile Scherrer
Cecile Scherrer

Still not able to vote in time.
Unterlagen fuer 2ter Wahlgang am 19.11. Erst am 24.11. erhalten von der Stadt Zuerich.

LynxVegas
LynxVegas

I normally vote on referendums and initiatives, but rarely for politicians. Mainly as I do not know any of them and I do not trust them. How many keep their election promises? How many do something good for me? How many line their own pockets? Plus, the list of politicians is massive, but there is online help via e.g. isidewith to narrow it down.

Fred
Fred
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

If e-voting is reintroduced in the canton of Bern, I will register again. But for the time being, I will remain a spectator.

Sollte das E-Voting im Kanton Bern erneut eingeführt werden. registriere ich mich wieder. Aber vorerst bleibe ich noch Zuschauer.

Markus Blattner
Markus Blattner
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Could not participate in the last National Council elections, because I received the documents only on 19.10. for the elections on 22.10.23. Residence Thailand, election canton Baselland. Postal way 2 weeks, no e-voting available. E-voting in the canton Baselland would be great and but also necessary.

Konnte nicht teilnehmen an den letzten Nationalratswahlen, da ich die Unterlagen erst am 19.10. für die Wahlen am 22.10.23 erhalten habe. Wohnort Thailand, Wahlkanton Baselland. Postweg 2-Wochen, kein e-voting vorhanden. E-Voting im Kanton Baselland wäre toll und aber auch nötig.

C_henning@msn.com
C_henning@msn.com

Hopefully E - voting will be available for all Cantons very soon. It is indeed frustrating not to participate.

Mauve-Lac-d`Emosson
Mauve-Lac-d`Emosson
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

E-voting should have been standard for a long time.

E-Voting sollte schon lange Standart sein.

chrenhuek38@gmail.com
chrenhuek38@gmail.com
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Yes, we have voted and could benefit via Internet for the Kt.Thurgau.
Everything worked fine and the documents were in our mailbox in Kha Lak on Sept. 10. Hopefully this will continue in the future. Chr. Kühner

Ja wir haben abgestimmt und konnten via Internet für den Kt.Thurgau profitieren.
Alles hat bestens funktioniert und die Unterlagen waren am 10. Sept. bei uns in Kha Lak im Briefkasten. Hoffentlich wird das auch in Zukunft so bleiben. Chr. Kühner

ppwyss
ppwyss
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

We were able to vote for the first time in years, because this time, in addition to the e-voting alternative in Basel-City, the voting documents arrived on time in Mexico. Our best thanks to the State Chancellery of Basel-City, for the exemplary introduction of e-voting, very well explained and easy to handle, as well as the right respectively early dispatch of the voting material for timely receipt in Mexico, where over the last 10 years the voting material has either arrived too late or not at all. Best thanks!
Patrick Wyss & Beatriz Hernández

Wir konnten praktisch zum ersten Mal seit Jahren abstimmen, da nebst der e-voting Alternative in Basel-Stadt diesmal auch die Abstimmungsunterlagen rechtzeitig bei uns in Mexiko ankamen. Unseren allerbesten Dank an die Staatskanzlei von Basel-Stadt, für die vorbildliche Einführung des e-voting, allerbestens erklärt und einfach handzuhaben, sowie den recht- respektive vorzeitigen Versand des Wahlmaterials zum rechtzeitigen Erhalt in Mexiko wo über die letzten 10 Jahre das Stimmmaterial entweder zu spät oder gar nicht angekommen ist. Beschte Dangg!
Patrick Wyss & Beatriz Hernández

Cecile Scherrer
Cecile Scherrer
@ppwyss

Hallo Patrick
Lucky you
I'm still waiting for voting electronic in Zueri Stadt.
Gruess us Australie
See you at 100th Congress in Luzern?

jaws550402
jaws550402
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

I am 570km north of Sydney Australia in a smaller town at home. The voting material is always 90% late. Too bad, I would love to participate.

Ich bin 570km nördlich von Sydney Australien in einer kleineren Stadt zu Hause. Das Stimmmaterial kommt zu 90% immer zu spät. Schade, ich würde sehr gerne teilnehmen.

Bernhard Grob
Bernhard Grob
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

The e-voting for the National Council elections for the Canton of St. Gallen was great.
My wife and my son were also enthusiastic.
But why we could not vote for the state council is unclear to me.

I tried to get a personal profile for the election by asking different questions, but I was not convinced. I think that by means of AI/KI the income can be 'manipulated' and thus the personal commitment by means of discussions and inquiries with friends and family members in Switzerland brings the better, personal election decision.

e-voting is great and hopefully will be extended to more cantons.

Greetings from sunny England
Bernhard Grob

Das e-voting fuer die Nationalratswahlen fuer den Kt SG war super.
Meine Frau und mein Sohn waren ebenfalls begeistert.
Weshalb wir aber fuer den Staenderat nicht waehlen konnten ist mir unklar.

Den Versuch mittels verschieden Fragen ein persoenliches Profil fuer die Wahl zu bekommen habe ich wohl gemacht, war aber nicht ueberzeugend. Ich denke, dass mittels AI/KI das Auskommen 'manipuliert' werden kann und somit das persoenliche Engagement mittels Diskussionen und Nachfragen bei Freunden und Familienangehoerigen in der Schweiz die bessere, persoenliche Wahlentscheidung bringt.

e-voting ist super und wird hoffentlich auf weitere Kantone ausgeweitet.

Gruss aus sonnigem England
Bernhard Grob

Ademello
Ademello
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

In Singapore we receive our voting material from Geneva and St Gallen, well in advance. 4 to 5 weeks before the vote.
I was able to vote electronically in St Gallen until 12 noon on October 21.
It was very satisfying and easy. Thank you St Gallen

A Singapour nous recevons notre materiel de vote depuis Geneve et St Gall, bien en avance. 4 à 5 semaines avant le vote.
J'ai pu voter électroniquement à St Gall jusqu'à 12 h le 21 octobre.
C'était très satisfaisant et facile. Merci St Gall

Matteo Bronz
Matteo Bronz
The following contribution has been automatically translated from IT.

I always vote in person at the polling station.

Voto sempre di persona al seggio elettorale.

Cecile Scherrer
Cecile Scherrer

I received the voting papers on 4. October2023.
Sending it back on 5. October paid $3.60 postage. But post office said il will take up to 25 days to arrive in Zurich = to late for arriving in time.
Express would have been $37 and also not guaranteed arrival in time.
It's important we Swiss abroad have a say in choosing the parliamentarian who are supporting the Swiss Abroad.
How do we find out if our voting arrived in time or not.
What happens to the envelopes arrived to late?
Cecile Scherrer

Melanie Eichenberger
Melanie Eichenberger SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@Cecile Scherrer

Dear Mrs. Scherrer

Thank you for your contribution. It is a problem that many Swiss abroad have. Postage is expensive, there is no guarantee that the vote will arrive.
To find out if your vote has arrived, it is best to ask at the State Secretariat of your canton or at your commune. It depends on where you are registered.
As far as I know, envelopes that arrive too late are invalid.

Liebe Frau Scherrer

Danke für Ihren Beitrag. Ein Problem, das viele Auslandschweizerinnen und Auslandschweizer haben. Das Porto ist teuer, eine Garantie, dass die Stimme ankommt fehlt.
Um herauszufinden, ob Ihre Stimme angekommen ist, fragen Sie am besten beim Staatssekretariat Ihres Kantons oder bei Ihrer Gemeinde an. Es kommt darauf an, wo Sie registriert sind.
Zu spät angekommene Umschläge sind meines Wissens ungültig.

Malik Berkati
Malik Berkati
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I vote in the canton of Geneva. We used to be able to vote electronically, but this is no longer possible. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible. Having said that, even when e-voting was possible, it only concerned votes. For elections, you had to vote by post.

Je vote dans le canton de Genève. Avant, nous avions la possibilité de voter par voie électronique, mais ce n'est plus possible. Malheureusement. Ceci dit, même lorsque le e-vote était possible, cela ne concernait que les votations, pour les élections, il fallait voter par correspondance.

Daniel Bernard
Daniel Bernard

How to I sign up to vote

Emilie Ridard
Emilie Ridard SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.
@Daniel Bernard

Firstly, you need to register with the embassy of the country in which you live, and secondly, you need to be entered on the electoral register. Here are some [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/l-inscription-au-registre-%C3%A9lectoral-est-simple-et-claire-elections-federales-22-octobre-2023-suisse/48395304#:~:text=La%20demande%20est%20%C3%A0%20adress,se%20r%C3%A9inscrire%20au%20registre%20%C3%A9lectoral]instructions[/url].

Il faut d'une part que vous soyez annoncé à l'ambassade du pays dans lequel vous vivez, et d'autre part que vous vous inscriviez au registre électoral. Voici un [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/societe/l-inscription-au-registre-%C3%A9lectoral-est-simple-et-claire-elections-federales-22-octobre-2023-suisse/48395304#:~:text=La%20demande%20est%20%C3%A0%20adresser,se%20r%C3%A9inscrire%20au%20registre%20%C3%A9lectoral.]mode d'emploi[/url].

PeterPotter
PeterPotter

Vote by post, Hi can I find out wether or not my voting papers were received or not. ?

Emilie Ridard
Emilie Ridard SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.
@PeterPotter

To find out, contact the chancellery of the canton in which you voted.

Bonjour, pour le savoir il faut vous adresser à la chancellerie du canton dans lequel vous avez voté.

Jean Thomas
Jean Thomas
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

For the first time positive: in France, we receive the documents from the Canton of Zurich right away, the return by Prioritaire recommended. Nevertheless, we would like that e-voting is finally made possible for us Swiss abroad. That this is due to federalist barriers is simply ridiculous.

Mal positiv: in Frankreich erhalten wir vom Kt. Zürich die Unterlagen rechteitig, die Rücksendung per Prioritaire empfohlen. Trotzdem, wir möchten, dass E-Voting für uns Auslandschweizer endlich ermöglicht wird. Dass dies an föderalistischen Barrieren liegt, ist schlicht lächerlich.

Erika & Walter Brand
Erika & Walter Brand
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Thank you Emilie Ridard for your reply
We vote in the canton of Basel-Stadt. It's probably the South African post office that's responsible for this malaise.
Erika & Walter Brand

Merci Emilie Ridard pour votre réponse
On vote dans le canton de Bâle-Ville. C'est probablement la poste Sud-Africaine qui est responsable pour ce malaise.
Erika & Walter Brand

Emilie Ridard
Emilie Ridard SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.
@Erika & Walter Brand

It's all the more galling then that Basel-Stadt is one of only 3 cantons that now offer electronic voting!

C'est alors d'autant plus rageant que Bâle-Ville fait partie des 3 cantons qui proposent désormais le vote électronique!

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR