Swiss voters have delivered a razor-thin endorsement for the introduction of voluntary electronic identity cards, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s ongoing debate over privacy, digital innovation, and state control. With all ballots tallied from Sunday’s referendum, 50.4% backed the new e-ID system, while 49.6% voted against it, according to reporting from BBC and The Guardian. The result, which came as a surprise to many observers and even to government officials who had anticipated a more decisive mandate, underscores the deep divisions in Swiss society over how to balance technological convenience with the country’s storied tradition of individual privacy.
The turnout for this closely watched vote was 49.55%—higher than many had expected. This was not Switzerland’s first encounter with the digital ID debate. In 2021, a previous proposal was rejected by voters, largely due to concerns that private companies would control and store sensitive personal data. This time, the architects of the new system made significant changes: the Swiss state itself will provide and manage the e-ID, and crucially, all data will be stored only on the user’s smartphone rather than in a central database. The e-ID will be strictly voluntary and free of charge, and Swiss citizens can continue to use their traditional national identity cards, which have been the norm for decades.
Supporters of the e-ID argue the benefits are clear and wide-ranging. The government has touted the new digital ID as a tool to streamline bureaucratic procedures, from opening a bank account to proving one’s age to buy alcohol or sign a mobile phone contract. As BBC notes, “Supporters say the Swiss e-ID will simplify bureaucratic procedures like getting a telephone contract or proving age for alcohol purchases.” The government also believes the move will help Switzerland keep pace with its European neighbors, many of whom are rapidly digitizing their identification systems. In fact, the Swiss government claims the e-ID will provide a boost to the economy by modernizing how citizens interact with both public and private services.
But the path to Sunday’s narrow victory was anything but smooth. The referendum was triggered after a coalition of right-wing and privacy-focused parties collected more than 50,000 signatures—enough to force a national vote. Critics remain deeply skeptical, even with the new safeguards. Their concerns are not without precedent: Switzerland has a long and proud tradition of protecting personal privacy, famously enshrined in its banking secrecy laws and in strict rules around digital surveillance. For years, even Google Street View has faced special restrictions in Switzerland, with images near schools, hospitals, and women’s refuges automatically blurred following a Swiss Federal Court ruling.
Opponents worry that, despite the new restrictions, the e-ID could still be misused for tracking, marketing, or even mass surveillance. Some fear the voluntary nature of the digital ID could eventually give way to mandatory use, especially as more services become digitized. “Critics of the e-ID scheme raised data protection concerns and said it opened the door to mass surveillance. They also fear the voluntary scheme will become mandatory and disadvantage people without smartphones,” The Guardian reported. There are also worries that those without smartphones—particularly the elderly or those with limited means—could be left behind or disadvantaged.
Adding to the tension is the timing of the Swiss vote, which came just days after the UK government announced its own plans for a digital ID. The British version, intended to be mandatory for employment by 2029, has already provoked a backlash, with over 1.6 million people signing a petition against it. According to The Guardian, “The UK government announced plans for a digital ID card, which would sit in the digital wallets of smartphones, using state-of-the-art encryption.” Unlike the Swiss proposal, the UK’s plan would be compulsory for those seeking work, sparking fresh debates about privacy and state oversight.
Switzerland’s new e-ID will be linked to a single smartphone, and users will need to obtain a new e-ID if they change devices. Authorities seeking information will only be able to verify specific details—such as proof of age or nationality—rather than accessing a person’s full identity profile. To further assuage privacy concerns, the government has emphasized that the e-ID is optional and that a physical ID card will remain available. Looking ahead, a new biometric ID card containing fingerprints is expected to be introduced by the end of 2026, offering another layer of choice for Swiss citizens.
Political scientist Lukas Golder, speaking to Swiss public television SRF, observed that “since the Covid pandemic he had seen growing mistrust of state solutions, particularly in conservative regions.” That mistrust was reflected in the unexpectedly tight result, which confounded pollsters who had predicted up to 60% support for the new system. The government, however, remains optimistic, arguing that the e-ID will help Switzerland align with the digital transformation underway in the European Union. By the end of 2026, all EU citizens are expected to have access to a voluntary digital wallet, enabling them to store ID cards, driving licenses, and university diplomas online. This open-source system is currently being tested by 550 public authorities and private companies across the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine.
Switzerland is not alone in grappling with the challenges and opportunities of digital identity. Estonia, for example, has long been a trailblazer in this field. For more than two decades, Estonians have used e-ID cards to vote, sign documents, access public services, and shop online. Ukraine’s Diia app, used by 14 million people, allows citizens to store digital documents and access a wide range of state services, from paying traffic fines to updating driving licenses. These examples provide a glimpse of what a digital future could look like, but also serve as a reminder of the importance of robust safeguards and public trust.
For now, the Swiss e-ID will remain a voluntary option, reflecting a careful compromise between the demands of modern life and the enduring Swiss commitment to privacy and individual choice. Whether this delicate balance can be maintained as digital technologies continue to evolve remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the debate over digital identity in Switzerland is far from over.
