Swiss Voters Approve Electronic ID Cards in Narrow Vote

Fri Oct 03 2025 02:47:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a closely contested referendum, Swiss citizens have voted to adopt voluntary electronic identity cards, with implications for privacy, digital services, and administrative efficiency.

Swiss voters have narrowly approved a proposal for voluntary electronic identity cards, with 50.4% in favor and 49.6% against. The close vote comes after past objections regarding data privacy. The new system promises to allow individual data storage on smartphones while retaining optional use of national identity cards. As nations like the UK eye similar digital ID proposals, privacy concerns continue to dominate the debate.

Swiss voters have narrowly approved a plan to introduce voluntary electronic identity cards. 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 is a surprise, as opinion polls had suggested up to 60% backed digital IDs, which had also received support from the Swiss government and both houses of parliament. This marks Switzerland's second vote on digital IDs; an earlier proposal was rejected in 2021 due to worries about centralized data control and private provider management.

The recent proposal, however, keeps the control within the government. Data will be stored only on individual users' smartphones, making digital IDs optional. Citizens can continue to use the national identity card if they prefer, which has been a standard for decades in Switzerland. Further addressing privacy concerns, authorities will only access specific data such as proof of age or nationality when justified.

This move comes in the wake of the UK government's announcement of plans to introduce its own mandatory digital ID system to address illegal migration. Supporters of the Swiss digital ID argue it will streamline administrative processes, from securing contracts to validating age, while opponents fear it could still compromise privacy and be used for tracking or marketing purposes.

Switzerland is known for its strong emphasis on individual privacy, with historical banking secrecy laws aimed at protecting personal finances. These concerns persist, especially following a federal court ruling requiring blurred images near sensitive locations on Google Street View.