Since 1998, the Swiss government has actively pursued the implementation of electronic voting (“e-voting”) in its elections. This case study examines how these systems have worked in the test cantons of Geneva and Zurich. The evidence and analysis in this case study suggest that e-voting might serve as a powerful tool to augment the participation rate, the quality of voting, and aid in the implementation of political rights. This study also evaluates the risks of e-voting, noting that the concerns around integrity often associated with electronic voting have for the most part not materialized in the Swiss case. Questions such as the digital divide in access to networked technologies are also a real concern that should be addressed by the government as it expands the system.
(Source:Berkman Center Research Publication,2009)