Proposals submitted to a popular vote, ballot papers and explanatory statements

1 The Confederation shall provide the cantons with the proposals to be submitted to a popular vote 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.

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 stamp, etc.) at least three and no more than four weeks prior to the polling day. The proposal submitted to a popular vote and the 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.

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.