Since 1 July 1992 Swiss nationals living abroad have been able to participate in political life in Switzerland (ie in votes on federal proposals and in National Council elections) without having to travel to Switzerland to do so.

Participation
As a Swiss national resident abroad you can exercise your political rights by post from another country if you:

• have moved abroad;
• are at least 18 years old; and
• are registered with a Swiss Embassy (also referred to as "consular post").

Registration
If you fulfil the above-mentioned conditions you should register with your consular post either in writing or in person. The relevant form "Registration as an expatriate Swiss national entitled to vote" can be given to you or sent by mail. You are free to choose one of your communes of origin or previous communes of residence as your electoral commune. The completed form must be sent to the Embassy.

The cantons are entitled to introduce a central electoral register for expatriate Swiss nationals. If this is the case in your canton, your vote would not be counted in the electoral commune designated by you but in the commune in which the central electoral register is held. To date the following cantons have introduced a central electoral register: Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Basel City, Geneva, Lucerne and Vaud.

The electoral commune designated by you will confirm your entry in the electoral register in writing.

Confirmation of registration
You must confirm your registration before the expiry of a period of four years from first registration. You can do this as follows:

• in writing or in person at your electoral commune, or
• by informing the Swiss consular post in good time should you move to another address within the same consular district, or
• by validly signing a federal initiative or a referendum petition.

You must re-confirm every four years, before the expiry of the four-year deadline. If you fail to confirm your registration before the expiry of the four-year deadline, you will be removed from the electoral register. However you can re-register at any time.

Voting Papers and Participating in the Vote

Dispatch of voting papers
Before each federal vote or election you will receive the official voting papers and commentary by the Federal Council by post from your electoral commune.

Participation in the vote or election

a) From abroad

You should place your completed ballot paper in the special envelope provided. This should be sealed and placed, with the cantonal identity card where necessary, in the postal envelope. You must stamp this second envelope yourself and send it by post to your electoral commune.

The voting regulations may differ from canton to canton. You are therefore advised to read the relevant instructions from your electoral commune carefully.

Please note that the Confederation cannot guarantee that the foreign postal system will function correctly. The risk that the voting papers could arrive late at your address abroad or that your ballot paper could arrive late at the electoral commune must therefore be borne by you.

b) In Switzerland

Should you be staying in Switzerland when a vote or elections are held, you can vote either personally at the polling station or by post. However, if you wish to vote at the polling station your electoral commune must be informed of your stay in Switzerland at least six weeks before polling day so that it can prepare the voting papers for you. These must be collected by you during office hours.

Signing Initiatives and Referendum Petitions

If, as a Swiss national resident abroad, you also wish to sign federal popular petitions, you can request the material directly from the relevant initiative or referendum committee and sign at your place of residence abroad. On the list of signatures you must indicate your electoral commune and the relevant canton, besides your personal details; your residential address abroad is regarded as your place of residence. If you are staying in Switzerland you can also add your signature to the lists in your electoral commune. The "Swiss Review" regularly publishes the addresses of the various initiative and referendum committees.

Important Note
In certain states, participation in the political life of another country can involve sanctions and/or, in the case of dual nationals, result in the loss of the non-Swiss nationality.

Only the authorities of your country of residence can give reliable information on the subject.