About SwissAbroad.vote

SwissAbroad.vote is an independent project that provides opinionated, plain-language analysis of Swiss federal votes for citizens living abroad. We publish before every federal vote via our website and a free email newsletter.

We are not affiliated with any political party, campaign, lobby group, or government body. Our analysis represents our editorial views, informed by careful reading of the official materials, media coverage, expert commentary, and the best available evidence.

Why we Built This​

We help Swiss citizens abroad understand their votes clearly and participate in Switzerland’s unique direct democracy.​

Our Editorial Stance​

We’re not neutral: we present both sides of every issue, then take a transparent, left-progressive perspective — pro-science, pro-redistribution, and committed to protecting rights across species and ecosystems. We’re not affiliated with any party.

Who we Are​

Run by a small team of volunteer Swiss citizens abroad, we’re fellow voters — not journalists or politicians – committed to making democratic participation easier.​

What We’re Not​

We’re not a news outlet, government service, campaign, or party affiliate – just an independent guide to federal votes that complements, not replaces, the official materials.​

Why we built this

Swiss direct democracy is extraordinary. Citizens vote directly on policy, multiple times a year. It’s one of the most participatory democratic systems on earth.

But if you live abroad, exercising that right can be harder than it should be. The official voting booklet is thorough but dense. Media coverage assumes you follow Swiss politics closely. You may not be registered to vote. And when you’re living in a different country, it’s easy to let a vote slip by.

We exist because we think every Swiss citizen abroad deserves:

  • Clear, honest analysis that doesn’t assume you’ve been following the Swiss debates for months
  • A straightforward explanation of what changes if you vote yes, and what changes if you vote no
  • An editorial perspective that’s transparent about its values — not hidden behind false neutrality
  • Practical reminders so you actually vote, not just intend to

Our editorial stance

We are not neutral, and we don’t pretend to be.

Every analysis follows the same structure: we explain the issue, present the strongest arguments on both sides, and then tell you what we think and why. You’ll always see the full case for and against before you see our position.

Our values are straightforward:

  • Pro-science. When evidence exists, we follow it. Climate policy should be shaped by climate science. Health policy should be shaped by medical research. We have little patience for initiatives that ignore or contradict established evidence.
  • Pro-rights. We believe in equal treatment under the law — regardless of gender, marital status, origin, orientation, or lifestyle. When a vote touches on individual freedoms or civil rights, we lean toward expanding them, not restricting them. That commitment extends beyond humans: we take seriously the protection of animals and ecosystems as rights-bearers in their own right.
  • Pro-redistribution. We believe everyone deserves a real shot — at education, healthcare, economic security and living their best lives. That includes those without a political voice: immigrants who contribute but can’t vote, animals who can suffer but can’t speak, ecosystems that sustain us but can’t defend themselves. Those who’ve benefited most from a well-functioning society should contribute accordingly.
  • Anti-authoritarian. We’re skeptical of concentrated power, whether it’s government overreach, corporate capture, or populist movements that scapegoat minorities. We believe strong institutions serve people best when they’re transparent, accountable, and constrained by clear rules.

We don’t belong to any party. If you had to place us, you’d find us somewhere in the progressive-liberal space — but we evaluate each vote on its merits. We have disagreed with the left on things, and we will again.

Who we are

We are run by a small team of volunteer Swiss citizens living abroad who care about democratic participation. We are not journalists, politicians, or lobbyists — we’re fellow voters who got tired of missing votes and decided to do something about it.

If you’d like to get in touch: philippe at nodiamonds dot com

What We are not

  • Not a news outlet — we only publish around federal votes
  • Not a government service — we have no official status or endorsement
  • Not a campaign — we don’t lobby for or against specific outcomes beyond our published analysis
  • Not affiliated with ASO/SwissCommunity, the EDA, or any political party
  • Not a replacement for the official voting materials — we always recommend reading the Bundesbüchlein / brochure explicative alongside our analysis