E-voting to advance slowly in 2011

Cantons Zurich and Geneva have suspended a pilot programme to introduce online voting, a step that has repercussions for the rest of the country. The halt, and government-imposed limitations, have frustrated the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (Osa) which says democratic rights are too often held hostage by the vagaries of global postal services. “It would have been appropriate for these two e-voting pilot cantons to have used the 2011 elections for first voting tests, since tests during nationwide votes have always been convincing,” the organisation said. Canton Zurich blamed the postponement on technical issues and costs. Canton Geneva authorities are more worried about legal issues and want to avoid court battles. While electronic voting would cost about SFr150 ($157) per vote in Zurich, Geneva could conduct an online ballot for about SFr15 per vote. “It would be less than SFr2 if every Geneva expat or resident who could vote via the internet did ...