Swiss citizens living abroad can exercise their political rights and vote on federal issues and participate in National Council elections if they:
The Application form to exercise political rights needs to be submitted to the Swiss representation with which you are registered.
Participation in cantonal votes and elections is regulated in the legislation of each canton and not possible in all cantons. Please enquire at your communal authority about the possibility of participating in cantonal votes and elections.
Swiss living abroad exercise their political rights generally in their last place of residence or their place of origin.
In most cantons, a central authority keeps the electoral register of the Swiss Abroad, organizes the dispatch of voting material and is responsible for counting the votes.
Below is a list of the cantonal offices responsible for voting and elections in the canton you are registered for voting.
If you have received voting material late or not at all please contact the respective authority in your canton.
Should you receive your voting papers directly from your last place of residence/commune you need to contact them directly.
AI
Kantonale Verwaltung Appenzell Innerrhoden
Ratskanzlei
Marktgasse 2
9050 Appenzell
T +41 71 788 93 11
AR
Kantonskanzlei
Regierungsgebäude
9102 Herisau
T +41 71 353 61 11
F +41 71 353 68 64
AG
Staatskanzlei
Generalsekretariat
Wahlen und Abstimmungen
Regierungsgebäude
5001 Aarau
T +41 62 835 12 10
F +41 62 835 44 47
BE
Staatskanzlei des Kantons Bern
Amt für Regierungsunterstützung und politische Rechte
Postgasse 68
Postfach
3000 Bern 8
T +41 31 633 75 11
BS
Staatskanzlei
Rechtsabteilung
Recht und Volksrecht
Marktplatz 9
Rathaus
4051 Basel
T +41 61 267 63 00
BL
Landeskanzlei
Rathausstrasse 2
4410 Liestal
T +41 61 552 50 32
FR
État de Fribourg/ Staat Freiburg
Chancellerie de l'Etat de Fribourg CHA
Rue des Chanoines 17
1700 Fribourg
T +41 26 305 10 45
F +41 26 305 10 48
GE
République et canton de Genève
Service des votations et élections
Localisation
route des Acacias 25
1211 Genève 26
T +41 22 5465200
GL
Kanton Glarus
Staatskanzlei des Kantons Glarus
Rathaus
8750 Glarus
T +41 55 646 6011 / +41 55 646 6012
GR
Standeskanzlei Graubünden
Reichsgasse 35
7001 Chur
Tel. +41 81 257 22 23
Fax +41 81 257 21 41
JU
République et Canton du Jura
Secrétariat de la Chancellerie d'Etat
2, rue de l'Hôpital
2800 Delémont
T + 41 32 420 72 00
F + 41 32 420 72 01
LU
Justiz und Sicherheitsdepartement
Stimmregisterführerin
T +41 41 228 51 40
NE
République et canton de Neuchâtel
CHANCELLERIE
Château
Rue de la Collégiale 12
2000 Neuchâtel
T +41 32 889 40 03
F +41 32 889 60 71
NW
Kantonales Abstimmungsbüro
Dorfplatz 2
Postfach 1246
6371 Stans
T +41 618 79 02
F +41 618 79 11
OW
Staatskanzlei
Rathaus
Dorfplatz 8
Postfach 1562
6061 Sarnen
T +41 41 666 62 03
SG
Dienst für politische Rechte
Regierungsgebäude
9001 St.Gallen
T +41 58 229 88 88
SH
Staatskanzlei
Beckenstube 7
8200 Schaffhausen
T +41 52 632 73 62
SO
Wahl und Abstimmungsdienst
T +41 32 627 20 41
SZ
Staatskanzlei
Regierungsgebäude
Bahnhofstrasse 9
Postfach 1260
6431 Schwyz
T +41 41 8192610
TG
Rechtsdienst Staatskanzlei
Regierungsgebäude
8510 Frauenfeld
T +41 58 345 53 30
F +41 58 345 53 39
TI
Repubblica e cantone Ticcino
Cancelleria dello Stato
Piazza Governo 6
6501 Bellinzona
Servizio informazioni
T +41 91 814 41 11
F +41 91 814 44 35
UR
Kanton Uri
Standeskanzlei
Rathausplatz 1
6460 Altdorf
T +41 41 875 2007
VD
État de Vaud
Chancellerie de l’État
Château cantonal
1014 Lausanne
T +41 21 316 40 40
VS
Staatskanzlei
Place de la Planta 3
Palais du Gouvernment
1950 Sion
T +41 27 606 21 00
ZG
Staatskanzlei des Kantons Zug
T +41 41 728 31 20
ZH
Direktion der Justiz und des Innern
Statistisches Amt
Wahlen & Abstimmungen
Schöntalstrasse 5
8090 Zürich
T +41 43 259 75 75
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Background photo credits: Depositphotos, Francine Schaepper Photography, Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, CSA Oceania
Many Swiss in Oceania have expressed their frustration and disappointment on the late or non-arrival of their voting material sent by regular mail from Switzerland.
The term of your current four CSA Oceania Delegates ends mid 2021, and elections are being held in Australia starting the process early in 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress of the Swiss Abroad and the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) that were to be held in Lugano this August had to be postponed to next year. As a consequence – and as a first of its kind – the CSA meeting was conducted virtually, utilising the online conference system ‘Demio’. It took place on 10 July 2020 and a total of 86 delegates participated.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) on 14 March 2020 in Berne had to be cancelled. As a consequence - and as a first in the history of the organisation – the 127 delegates were asked to cast their votes electronically in matters that couldn’t be postponed until the next meeting.
Sadly, the Congress of the Swiss Abroad that was to be held in Lugano from 21 to 23 August 2020, and with it the CSA summer assembly, had to be cancelled.
Dear fellow Swiss
As you are all aware the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is quickly spreading around the world but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not changed its warning level (public health emergency of international concern) since January 30, 2020.
A lot has happened lately with regards to e-voting. There has been growing resistance and a fair bit of scare-mongering in Switzerland regarding the introduction of e-voting. Whilst the advantages are obvious to the government and the Swiss Abroad, sceptics argue that the trust in the democratic process is compromised due to e-security uncertainty and the cost of developing a secure system is also a concern. Earlier this year, a broad alliance of political parties has been collecting signatures for a popular initiative. Their aim is to ban the introduction of e-voting for at least five years.
The legislative body of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), met for its biannual meeting at the town hall in Bern on 23 March 2019. For the second time, the meeting followed on an exchange with Swiss parliamentarians for an update on political issues with relevance for the Swiss Abroad.
Canton Geneva has announced it can no longer afford to bear the cost of an e-voting system and plans to abandon the project, according to Swiss public radio, RTS. This leaves only one other e-voting project still standing in Switzerland run by Swiss Post.
Read the full Swissinfo report here
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 13 June 2018 – The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) representing the interests of 751,800 compatriots living abroad, is disappointed that the Council of States today rejected Motion 17.3626 by 30 votes to 9 with 4 abstentions. The Council of States has decided not to follow the majority of its Foreign Policy Commission (APK-S) and has rejected a motion calling on PostFinance to accept Swiss Abroad on similar terms as citizens residing in Switzerland. The problem that has existed for our compatriots living abroad for ten years remains unresolved.
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 30 May 2018 – The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) is relieved that the Council of States has today decided to follow the recommendation of its Commission on Social Security and Health (SGK-S) to delete the amendment to Article 4 (1) in the context of the supplementary benefits reform. This means that the current rules remain in place. Last March, the National Council approved an application whereby Swiss Abroad would have had to pay social security contributions (AHV) for at least ten years in order to qualify for supplementary benefits, which would have discriminated against Swiss Abroad.
On 10 March 2018, at he CSA meeting in Bern, the executive of the OSA announced that it had entered into a partnership with the Geneva Cantonal Bank (BCGE).
More information is available under the topic Swiss Banks.
The Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) would like to know about difficulties you have encountered in the area of health insurance and the practical problems that you face as a Swiss person living abroad. This may be of specific relevance to those living temporarily in the Oceania region or those in need for travel insurance when visiting Switzerland. By the same token, if you have had positive experiences or wish to share good practices, please do so!
The purpose is to look at ways of improving the situation of Swiss people living abroad in this regard.
You can send your experiences and suggestions to us delegates and/or directly to the head office in Bern: info@aso.ch
The Swiss Parliament voted for the Introduction of Automatic Exchange of Information with New Zealand. A summary and comments by Peter Ehrler, New Zealand Member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad.
On 27 September, the National Council (Nationalrat) followed the recommendation from the Economic Commission of the Lower House and rejected implementing the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with New Zealand. The majority of the members are of the opinion that the Swiss in New Zealand are disadvantaged over other Swiss living abroad, because of the Swiss pension (AHV) being confiscated by the New Zealand Government.
Are you receiving an income from the Swiss Social Insurance (AHV/AVS or IV/AI)?
You may be entitled to claim a tax deduction in Australia for personal contributions paid into the insurance.
For more news please check our News Archive