Election type

Voting from Abroad: The International IDEA Handbook 2007:

“Swiss electors who are resident or staying abroad have been allowed to exercise their political rights since 1977. At first, they were only allowed to cast their vote on Swiss territory: they had to travel back to Switzerland in order to vote. […] In 1989, however, the Federal Council changed its practice. Since then, foreigners have been allowed to take part in the elections and referendums of their own state on Swiss territory. At the same time, the postal vote for Swiss voters abroad was introduced. Postal voting can be done from anywhere in the world. There are no restrictions whatsoever, except for slow postal services in some countries. […]

In the Swiss federal system, those citizens who are resident or staying abroad do not constitute a distinct voting area or electoral district; instead they choose one commune as their ‘voting commune’. This could be the commune in which they were born, or one in which they have been previously resident (article 5, §1 of the BPRAS). Eligible expatriates who wish to exercise their political rights must notify the local electoral office of their chosen voting commune where they intend to vote. The notification must be renewed every four years (article 5a of the BPRAS). Eligible Swiss resident or staying abroad can submit their vote either personally at the voting commune in Switzerland (according to the same rules as Swiss voters resident in Switzerland) or by post (article 1 of the BPRAS). These are the only two options for Swiss voters abroad. There is no provision for voting in diplomatic representations abroad. […]

Voting rights of Swiss citizens resident or staying abroad (cantonal level)

Because of the federal structure of Switzerland, voting rights at cantonal level may differ from voting rights at the national level. At the national level, Swiss voters may exercise the same political rights as Swiss voters in Switzerland, but the picture is different at the cantonal level. Only 11 cantons out of 26 (as of 1 October 2004 these were Basel-Land, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Graubünden, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino and Zurich) allow electors abroad who are registered in the canton to exercise their political rights at cantonal level. However, the number of cantons that allow external voting is growing slowly but steadily. Usually, the reasons behind the introduction of external voting are of a political nature. If a political party thinks that the voters abroad will support its politics, it is in favour of introducing external voting.”

​Federal Law on Political Rights of 17 December 1976 (Status as of 1 January 2013)

Art.8 Postal voting (Article as originally existing in 1976)

1.The cantons shall provide a simple procedure for postal voting. In particular, they shall enact provisions to guarantee the verification of eligibility to vote, voting secrecy and the counting of all the votes cast, and to prevent abuses. […]