Swiss e-ID Vote Challenged by Committee Seeking Annulment

Published Date : 10/1/2025 

The committee that opposed the Swiss e-ID is seeking to annul the referendum result, citing alleged illicit interference by state-controlled Swisscom. The narrow victory for the e-ID proposal is now under scrutiny as federal judges assess the validity of the vote. 

The committee that opposed the Swiss e-ID is seeking to annul the referendum result, alleging illicit interference by state-controlled Swisscom. Swiss citizens narrowly voted in favor of the government's move to introduce a digital ID, with 50.39 percent of voters in support. However, the committee claims that the vote was unduly influenced by Swisscom, a private company majority-owned by the Swiss state, which is expected to maintain political neutrality.

The referendum committee asserts that Swisscom donated 30,000 Swiss Francs (US$37,780) to a pro-eID committee and had a senior executive publicly promote the project. Additionally, the Digitalswitzerland Foundation, which has Swisscom’s CEO on its board, donated CHF 150,000 (US$188,925) to the pro-eID committee. The committee believes these actions contravene the freedom to vote, which is protected by the federal constitution, and claims the financial assistance was concealed.

RTS analyzed whether this appeal could lead to a re-run of the vote. Repeated votes are rare and require the result to be very close, with the appeal filed quickly. Both conditions are met in this case, but the irregularity must also be significant enough to have influenced the votes of 10,000 people, given that the result was decided by 20,000 votes. Federal judges will decide if Swisscom’s financial contributions constitute an irregularity and whether they had a decisive impact on the vote.

The new digital identity law establishes the basis for a state-issued e-ID that Swiss citizens can use to identify themselves to authorities and businesses. The use of the e-ID is voluntary and free. The Swiss Abroad were more in favor of the e-ID, with nearly 64 percent of expat voters marking yes. This is not surprising as overseas Swiss can benefit the most from the e-ID, and some may have experience with digital ID systems in their adopted countries.

Political scientist Martina Mousson, at research institute gfs.bern, noted that overseas Swiss are more likely to be aged between 40 and 64, have high incomes, higher levels of education, and live in cities. “Our surveys have shown that these profiles are more favorable to the e-ID,” she told Swissinfo.

Swissinfo analyzes the results of the referendum, noting that the e-ID narrowly passed due to unintended voter mobilization around a separate issue—abolishing rental value taxation. Conservative rural voters, drawn by tax reform, turned out in high numbers but overwhelmingly rejected the e-ID, citing distrust of government and digital tools. Meanwhile, urban voters, more likely to support e-ID, were less motivated to vote.

The revised e-ID proposal, unlike the 2021 version rejected by 64 percent of voters, is now state-managed and designed with data minimization in mind. It allows users to prove eligibility, such as age, without revealing full personal details. However, its limited functionality and cautious rollout (free and identity-only) left many unconvinced of its practical value.

The opposition was fragmented but effective. The Pirate Party split internally, and the Swiss People’s Party only unified late in the campaign. Despite this, they mobilized significant resistance, with 49.6 percent voting no and most cantons opposing the measure. Concerns persist about overuse of digital identity, erosion of trust, and marginalization of digitally illiterate citizens, which is almost a third of the population. Critics warn that e-ID may become de facto mandatory, deepening reliance on smartphones and risking a wider digital divide.

Swiss voters narrowly approved the e-ID, reversing a 2021 referendum in which nearly two-thirds had rejected a similar proposal. The earlier version had been criticized for outsourcing e-ID issuance to private companies, raising concerns about data privacy and control. In response, politicians from across the spectrum submitted motions that addressed these criticisms, advocating for a public e-ID system with decentralized data storage and minimal data collection. Rather than ignoring the previous vote, these initiatives explicitly incorporated its arguments, demonstrating how referendums can shape policy beyond a binary outcome.

Political scientist Marc Bühlmann, a professor at the University of Bern, notes that most rejected referendums in Switzerland lead to renewed efforts that reflect public concerns. He points out that interpreting a “no” vote is itself a political act, citing the CO2 Act as an example where a revised version may not satisfy all parties. In contrast, the e-ID case shows how authorities, under pressure to win public support, can adapt legislation to include civil society input and address voter objections that ultimately secure a majority. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the Swiss e-ID?

A: The Swiss e-ID is a state-issued digital identity that Swiss citizens can use to identify themselves to authorities and businesses. It is voluntary and free to use.

Q: Why is the committee seeking to annul the referendum result?

A: The committee claims that the vote was unduly influenced by illicit interference from state-controlled Swisscom, which donated money to a pro-eID committee and had a senior executive promote the project.

Q: What are the main concerns about the e-ID?

A: Main concerns include overuse of digital identity, erosion of trust, and the potential marginalization of digitally illiterate citizens. Critics also worry that the e-ID may become de facto mandatory.

Q: How did the Swiss Abroad vote on the e-ID?

A: The Swiss Abroad were more in favor of the e-ID, with nearly 64 percent of expat voters marking yes, likely due to their potential to benefit the most from the e-ID.

Q: What changes were made to the e-ID proposal after the 2021 rejection?

A: The revised e-ID proposal is now state-managed and designed with data minimization in mind, allowing users to prove eligibility without revealing full personal details. It is also free and identity-only, with a cautious rollout. 

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