REPUBLIQUE
ET CANTON
DE GENEVE

 

Ge.ch > Thèmes > Citoyenneté > Votations - Elections > Votations > E-Voting > FAQ

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Political rights
2. Ballots’ organisation
3. Internet voting
4. How do I vote online?
5. Data protection
6. Practical aspects of internet voting
7. Frequent difficulties

1. Political rights

Who is entitled to vote?

All Swiss citizens aged 18 and more, registered in Geneva, may vote. For a municipal ballot, they must have been registered for three months at least in their present municipality.

In Geneva, foreigners living in Switzerland for eight years or more may vote for communal ballots and sign municipal referendums and initiatives their town of residence.

Can Swiss citizens living abroad vote?

Yes, Swiss citizens living abroad can vote at the cantonal and federal levels, providing they are registered with the Swiss consulate of their country of residence. In Geneva, as in most other cantons, they can’t however vote for municipal ballots.

The usual voting channel for expatriates is postal voting. Starting in September 2009, the Swiss expatriates registered in Geneva will be able to vote online for referenda and initiatives, provided they live in a European Union country or in a country that has signed the Wassennaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies . The signatories are: Argentina, Australia, Republic of South Africa, Canada, Republic of Korea, Croatia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine and United States of America.

I am in jail. Can I vote?

Yes, by post, or by internet if available.

Is voting compulsory?

No, voting is considered a duty, but it is not compulsory in Geneva.

How is the voters’ register produced?

The voters’ register is extracted from the inhabitants’ register eight weeks prior to any ballot.

I moved within Geneva. Am I registered to vote?

Yes, federal and cantonal voting rights come with no delay. For municipal ballots, however, voters remain registered for three months in their former municipality. This is meant to prevent “electoral tourism” (temporary registration of voters in a municipality in order to influence a ballot).

I just received the Swiss citizenship in Geneva. How do I register for vote?

You don’t need to register. Registration is automatic.

How do hospitalised people vote?

They vote by mail or internet, if the latter is available.

How do disabled people vote?

They vote by mail or internet, if the latter is available.

How do soldiers vote?

They vote by mail, at the polling station during a weekend leave, or by internet if available.

Is proxy voting allowed?

No, it is not allowed.

May I vote for a family member or a friend?

No, it is not allowed. To vote for a third party, even with his or her agreement, is unlawful (article 183 of the Geneva law on political rights– A 5 05).