Voting rights
Voting rights are the political rights to participate in elections and popular votes, central to Swiss direct democracy at federal, cantonal and communal levels.
In Swiss constitutional law, voting rights cover the right to vote in elections and referendums and, in a broader sense, to sign initiatives or requests for popular votes. At federal level they belong to Swiss citizens meeting the legal age and capacity requirements; cantonal and communal rules may differ, especially for residents without Swiss citizenship. The guarantee protects free formation of opinion, reliable vote counting and equal treatment of voters. Restrictions must rest on a legal basis and respect democratic principles.