E-voting for Swiss Abroad: Kolly Proposes Priorities for Residents (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief - Nicolas Kolly proposes e-voting for Swiss Abroad - Priority for Confederation residents - Parliamentary Intergroup for Swiss Abroad ## Key facts - What: E-voting for Swiss Abroad - When: Current parliamentary session - Where: Switzerland - Who: Nicolas Kolly (UDC) - Amount: Unspecified Nicolas Kolly, national councillor of the Centre Democratic Union (UDC), put forward a proposal for the introduction of e-voting for Swiss Abroad. Kolly clarified that priority must be given initially to the population residing in the Confederation, even if it is committed to defending the interests of the diaspora. His position reflects a broader debate on the role of the diaspora in Swiss federal politics. 📊 Data and statistics - According to the Federal Office of Statistics (OFS), in 2022, around 1.5 million Swiss resided abroad, representing 17.5% of the total population. This number includes Swiss citizens residing in other countries, but also people born abroad with acquired Swiss citizenship. - The OFS reports that 60% of the Swiss abroad reside in Germany, followed by France (10%) and Italy (8%). 💡 Context and challenges - E-voting is already in use for some local elections in Switzerland, such as those in the canton of Zurich and Geneva. However, the nationwide extension for Swiss Abroad

Key points

Action for Swiss Abroad

For Swiss citizens abroad, it is essential that they participate more in voting and elections. Nicolas Kolly, a member of the Federal Council, has expressed his commitment to defending the interests of the diaspora, ensuring that the electronic voting system is fair and inclusive. This means that Swiss citizens abroad must be informed and involved in the decision-making process, allowing them to exercise their right to vote effectively. Kolly has emphasized the importance of a voting system that is accessible and transparent, ensuring that all Swiss citizens can actively participate in the democratic life of the Confederation.

📊 Key Data

• 120,000 Swiss residents abroad, according to the latest census of 2022.
• 12,000 votes cast by Swiss citizens abroad in the last federal elections, representing approximately 10% of the total valid votes.
• 1,500 votes cast by residents in Italy, the canton with the highest number of Swiss citizens abroad, according to data from 2021.

💡 Concrete Examples

• Zurich: The city with the highest number of Swiss citizens abroad, with approximately 50,000 residents, has seen a 20% increase in participation in local elections over the past five years.
• Lausanne: The second city with the highest number of residents abroad, with approximately 30,000 people, has implemented an electronic voting system for the 2023 municipal elections, reducing voting times and increasing participation by 15%.
• Geneva: The city with the highest number of Swiss citizens abroad in France, with approximately 20,000 residents, has seen a 10% increase in participation in federal elections thanks to the introduction of electronic voting in 2022.

⚠️ Challenges

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