Narrow Yes for E-ID as Voters Also Back Second-Home Tax Reform

BERN - Swiss voters approved the e-ID act by 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent, one of the tightest federal results in years. Turnout was about 49.6 percent. A majority of cantons said no, but the bill was a federal act, so the popular majority sufficed. The second-home tax decree passed more comfortably, 57.7 percent, with a cantonal majority as well.

Privacy campaigners said the night confirmed mistrust of the state even in victory. Ministers said the country can now build a system instead of arguing about a ghost.

What changes next

Implementation will take years of ordinances. The tax change matters sooner for communes that live on chalets. For how later ballots treated large federal projects, see March 2026.