Swiss voters narrowly approve plan for electronic ID cards

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Swiss voters approved a plan for voluntary electronic identity cards, with 50.4% voting in favor and 49.6% against, a surprisingly close result. Contrary to polls predicting up to 60% support, the tight margin reflects ongoing concerns about privacy in Switzerland, a nation with a strong tradition of safeguarding personal data.

This marks Switzerland’s second referendum on digital IDs, following a 2021 rejection due to fears of centralized data storage and private provider control.