SMS voting in Switzerland

Last November 27, voters of about fifteen cities of the canton of Zurich, in Switzerland, could vote by Internet, but also by SMS, on several referendum. It was the end of a series of tests launched in 2003 in Switzerland, initially in Geneva, then in Neuchâtel and Zurich. The federal administration will return a report on these experiences and the Federal Council should decide in 2006 on the possibility to modify the federal law and to authorize e-voting.

On November 27, the citizens of Bertschikon, Bülach and Schlieren, in the canton of Zurich, could for the first time vote via Internet or SMS for federal votings. Bülach had already been able to test, at the end of October, the vote by SMS for a local voting.

24 % of the voters used the electronic way, with a clear preference for the Internet. The record was reached in the rural district of Bertschikon: 43 % of vote online, (27 % by Internet and 16 % by mobile phone). No problem was noted said Markus Notter, State Councillor in Zurich.

Concretely, voters who wanted to vote by SMS received a confidential code by mail, at the same time as their voter registration card. A code that they sent by SMS to a defined number, via their mobile phone. Then, they introduced a figure corresponding to their choice (yes or no)on the objects of voting.