Swiss Electorate Backs Introduction of E-IDs with Narrow Majority

Tue Nov 11 2025 02:52:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a close referendum, 50.4% of Swiss voters have approved a plan for electronic identity cards, signaling a shift towards digitalization in the nation.

Swiss voters have narrowly approved a proposal to implement electronic identity cards, with a close 50.4% supporting the plan. This marks a significant shift in opinion, as previous initiatives faced rejection due to privacy concerns. The new proposal keeps data management under government control, allowing for optional digital IDs while retaining traditional national identity cards.

Swiss voters have narrowly approved a plan to introduce electronic identity cards in the country.

With all votes counted, 50.4% of those who voted said yes to the proposal, while 49.6% rejected it.

The closeness of the ballot comes as a surprise; opinion polls had suggested up to 60% approval for the digital IDs, which were supported by the Swiss government and both houses of parliament.

This marks the second national vote in Switzerland on digital IDs, following a previous rejection in 2021 due to concerns over data management by private companies.

The revised proposal keeps the system under government control, ensuring that data is stored only on individual smartphones. Moreover, digital IDs will be optional, allowing citizens to continue using traditional national identity cards if they wish.