It turns out referendums aren’t just an aspect of Swiss democracy, they’re its most distinctive, beloved element. On a national level they’re usually held four times a year, with multiple items.

The allegation that malfeasance that could have skewed results in Swiss elections has jolted Switzerland’s vaunted system of direct democracy, where mail-in balloting is the main way that voters ...

How Swiss direct democracy works Mar 31, 2025 What do direct democratic tools like popular initiatives and referendums really entail? And how has this unique system evolved over time?

As a Swiss citizen used to voting on motorways and pension tweaks, the UK's referendum style feels like democratic cliff-diving. From burka bans ...

Switzerland and Britain share two qualities: a fondness for cheese, and ambivalence towards the European Union. Lately both ...

Jiyana Madrajee is democracy activist from Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh. The 26-year-old grew up in a family of tea pickers and belongs to the Hindu Telugu community, a minority group that ...

Today, with advances in Internet technology, it is possible to have cost-effective, direct citizen involvement in decision making. Internet voting already exists in Switzerland and the US.