Voting method

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. This provision has to be seen in close relation with the practice of the Federal Council (the government) with regard to the politically relevant behaviour of foreigners inside Switzerland. Foreigners were not allowed to vote in their own national elections or referendums while on Swiss territory because of issues surrounding Swiss sovereignty. In the light of this fact, Switzerland could not expect any other state to allow Swiss citizens abroad to cast a vote on its territory. In fact, Switzerland would not even have asked for this, because, if it had been granted Switzerland would have had to grant the same rights to foreigners in Switzerland. 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.”

​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. […]