Alternative Voting Methods Through the Example of Postal Voting and E-Voting in Switzerland

Abstract

To many observers, Swiss democracy seems to be complicated and a difficult to understand labyrinth of political institutions that directly involve citizens in the political decision making process. Swiss electoral law enables voters to participate in elections and referendums using one of three instruments: traditional voting (in polling stations), postal voting or electronic voting. The main thesis of this paper is the predication of how alternative methods of voting, postal voting and e-voting, change the way that Switzerland’s direct democracy functions. An analysis of Switzerland’s experiences in the use of alternative voting methods in decision-making at federal, cantonal and local levels of the state, seems to be a very interesting project and one worthy of scientific exploration.