Bundeskanzlei BK Sektion Politische Rechte E-voting in Switzerland Progress report Council of Europe, third review meeting, Recommendation (2004)11 Strasbourg, November 2010

Some facts about Switzerland 1.Federal State (26 member States / Cantons) 2.Direct democracy => VOTES max. 4 VOTES/year at federal level +av. 4 VOTES/year at communal (local) level 3.(semi-) Direct democracy => ELECTIONS federal (parliament) => every 4 years + cantonal (legislative, executive, judiciary…) => av. every 4 years + communal (legislative, executive…) => av. every 4 years

Some facts about Switzerland 4.TRADITIONAL VOTING CHANNELS: polling station, postal voting 5.EXPERIMENTAL ADDITIONAL CHANNEL (binding results): internet voting 6.INTERNET VOTING -introduced and operated by Cantons -prior authorisation of fed. Gvt. to use i-voting during federal votes necessary -cantons free to use it during cantonal & local votes/elections -3 internet voting systems have been developed so far: 12 cantons are currently ( fed.vote) using them to offer i- voting to their voters

i-voting primarily for Swiss abroad CENTRALIZATION / HARMONISATION OF ELECTORAL REGISTERS OF SWISS ABROAD Fed. law on political rights was modified to allow centralisation/harmonization (at cantonal level) of electoral registers of SA (entry into force ; cantons accordingly adapted their legislation within ) INNOVATING COOPERATION BETWEEN Cantons with and Cantons without an i-voting system - GE has signed „hosting“contracts with BS, BE and LU; - ZH has signed a contract with 7 other cantons allowing them to take&use ZH i-voting solution for free

i-voting primarily for Swiss abroad Swiss abroad, 120’000 registered to vote 90% live in Wassenaar* and EU* countries and can be authorized to vote via internet * countries which allow the exchange of encrypted data as used in e-voting High interest in internet - voting: +30 % of SA voters in SG used internet voting during the first trial on ; BS SA were more than 50% to do so at their third trial

Latest i-voting (binding) trials/demands – 7 Cantons authorized to i-vote NE (14 th trial), ZH (11 th trial), GE (8 th trial), BS (3 th trial), FR, SO, SG (1 st trial) 156‘016 voters were allowed to use i-voting – 12 Cantons are currently i-voting BS, FR, GE, NE, SG, SO, ZH, and for the first time AG, GR, LU, SH, TG ~ 190‘000 have to possibility to use i-voting – 12 Cantons have presented a request to the fed. Gvt.

Last federal binding trial: * Users of the official "Guichet unique" electronic office ZurichBertschikon, Boppelsen, Bubikon, Bülach, Fehraltorf, Maur, Männedorf, Mettmenstetten, Schlieren,Thalwil, Stadtkreis Altstadt Winterthur, Swiss abroad of Stadt Zurich (Stadtkreisen 1 und 2) 74’ SolothurnSwiss abroad registered in the communes: Solothurn, Zuchwil et Erlinsbach FribourgSwiss abroad registered in the commune of Fribourg GenèveAire-la-Ville, Anières, Avusy, Bernex, Chêne- Bougeries, Chêne-Bourg, Collonge-Bellerive, Cologny, Grand-Saconnex, Onex, Perly-Certoux, Plan-les-Ouates, Vandoeuvres, Swiss abroad 64'0445' St.GallenSwiss abroad5' Basel-StadtSwiss abroad NeuchâtelMax. 16'000 GU* registered electors, incl. Swiss abroad DateCantonAuthorized Communes / Voters Number of authorized voters Number of e-votes cast

Ongoing work a few Cantons have shown interest in offering i-voting to Swiss abroad during the federal Parliament election (1st trial) Observation and transparency Ongoing work with Cantons Research (EPFZ, Berner Fachhochschule…) -How to vote surely from an unsure client? Results expected in d generation of voting systems (end to end verifiability)

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