Voting to be made easier for Swiss abroad
Voting in national elections and referenda could be made easier for Swiss expatriates, following a vote in the Senate.
According to the proposal, the 70,000 expatriates registered with embassies all over the world, will be able to cast their votes without having to register regularly.
Swiss expatriates have had the right to take part in elections and referenda since 1977, however, so far they have been obliged to register with their embassies every four years.
On Monday the Senate voted in favour of a new regulation, which will enable expatriates to vote without having to register every four years.
The proposal must now be approved by the cabinet.
During the same session the Senate voted against a new law, under which the cabinet would be supposed to advise the cantons to keep the electoral register for expatriates on a communal rather than a cantonal level.
It also refused a new law giving expatriates the right to vote in Senate elections, with 13 votes in favour and 24 against.
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