OSCE would like to have e-voting observed
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) believes it is appropriate to take a closer look at e-voting in the Swiss federal elections. However, it remains to be seen whether a team of OSCE experts will be sent to Switzerland.
Representatives of the OSCE visited Switzerland for three days in June with a view to the federal elections in October. In a report published in the Berner Zeitung on Tuesday, they subsequently recommended sending a team of experts to assess the legal framework and implementation of e-voting. A thorough review of e-voting could be useful, especially as the use of e-voting is to be expanded in future elections, according to the report. In discussions held by the OSCE in Switzerland, concerns were expressed about e-voting, including data protection.
However, it has not yet been decided whether the OSCE will send a team of experts to Switzerland. A spokesperson for the responsible OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in response to an inquiry that they were planning to comply with the recommendation, but that this would depend on additional funding from the OSCE participating states. Discussions on this are still ongoing. In the elections this October, voters living in Switzerland will be able to participate in the National Council and Council of States elections via e-voting for the first time - the cantons of Geneva and Neuchâtel have submitted an application to the federal government. 13 cantons (AG, BS, FR, GE, GL, GR, LU, NE, SO, SG, SH, TG, ZH) want to offer Swiss citizens living abroad who are entered in their electoral registers the opportunity to cast their vote via the Internet.
Criticism of lack of transparency
In their report, the OSCE experts once again criticize the lack of transparency in party financing. As Switzerland has not implemented the OSCE's long-standing recommendation to improve transparency, sending election observers to deal with this issue would not help, as the report states. Apart from party financing, however, the experts have hardly anything to criticize. All interviewees had full confidence in the electoral authorities, they write in their report. No fundamental concerns were expressed regarding the campaigns, media coverage or the registration of candidates. The OSCE representatives said they had spoken with representatives of the authorities, political parties, the media and civil society during their visit to Switzerland. (SDA)
Image: Lu.ch
