Home > 1.3.2.1 Ballots and election material > SWITZERLAND - Federal Act on Political Rights
 
 
 
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Article 11
 

1 The Confederation shall provide the cantons with the proposals to be submitted to a vote of the People and the ballot papers.


2 Each proposal shall be accompanied by a short, objective explanation from the Federal Council that shall also take account of the opinions of significant minorities. The proposal must contain the wording of the questions on the ballot paper. In the case of popular initiatives and referendums, the initiative committee shall inform the Federal Council of their arguments and the Federal Council shall take such arguments into account in its explanatory statement. The Federal Council may amend or reject defamatory, blatantly false or excessively long statements. References to electronic sources may be included in the explanatory statement only if the author of the references declares in writing that none of the content of the sources is illegal and that the sources are not linked to electronic publications with illegal content.2


3 Persons eligible to vote shall receive the documents required to cast a valid vote under cantonal law (ballot paper, polling card, official voting envelope, validation stamp3, etc.) at least three and no more than four weeks prior to the polling day. Proposals submitted to a vote of the People and explanatory statements may be sent at an earlier date. The Federal Chancellery shall publish the proposals and the explanatory statement electronically at least six weeks prior to the polling day.45


4 The cantons may by law authorise communes to send only one copy of the proposals and the explanatory statements to each household unless a member of the household who is eligible to vote requests that personal copies be sent.6


1 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 21 June 1996, in force since 1 April 1997 (AS 1997 753; BBl 1993 III). 2 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 23 March 2007 on the Amendment of the Federal Legislation on Political Rights, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007  4635; BBl 2006 5261). 3 Term in accordance with No II 4 of the Federal Act of 20 March 2008 on the Formal Revision of Federal Legislation, with effect from 1 Aug. 2008 (AS 2008 3437 3452; BBl 2007 6121). This amendment has been made throughout the text. 4 Third sentence inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 21 June 2002, in force since 1 Jan. 2003 (AS 2002 3193; BBl 2001 6401). 5 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 18 March 1994, in force since 15 Nov. 1994 (AS 1994 2414; BBl 1993 III 445). 6 Inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 18 March 1994, in force since 15 Nov. 1994 (AS 1994 2414; BBl 1993 III 445).