Global Initiative to Enfranchise People with Disabilities: Switzerland - www.electionaccess.org
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Switzerland

General Right to Vote
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2011)

  • Article 136 states, “All Swiss citizens over the age of eighteen, unless they lack legal capacity due to mental illness or mental incapacity, shall have political rights in federal matters. Such citizens shall all have the same political rights and duties. They may participate in elections to the National Council and in federal popular votes, and launch or sign popular initiatives and requests for referendums in local matters.”

Specific Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2011)

  • Article 8, paragraph 2 states, “No one may be discriminated against, in particular on grounds of origin, race, gender, age, language, social position, way of life, religious, ideological, or political convictions, or because of a physical, mental or psychological disability.”
  • Article 8, paragraph 4 states, “The law shall provide for the elimination of inequalities that affect persons with disabilities.”

Exclusion Based on Intellectual Disability
Constitution
(1999, last amended 2011)

  • Article 136 states, “All Swiss citizens over the age of eighteen, unless they lack legal capacity due to mental illness or mental incapacity, shall have political rights in federal matters. Such citizens shall all have the same political rights and duties.”

Voter Assistance
Electoral Law
Federal Act on Political Rights
(1976, last amended 2010)

  • Article 6 states, “The cantons shall ensure that anyone who, due to a disability or any other reason, is permanently incapable of carrying out the procedures required for voting is able to vote.”

Off-Site Voting
Electoral Law
Federal Act on Political Rights
(1976, last amended 2010)

  • Article 7, paragraph 1 states, “The cantons shall permit advance voting a minimum of two of the four days immediately prior to the polling day,” but this does not specifically mention persons with disabilities.
  • Article 8 states, “Postal voting is permitted from the time of receipt of the documents required to cast a valid vote in accordance with cantonal law,” but does not specifically mention people with disabilities.


 
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