The issue stems from the use of USB keys to decrypt the electronic ballot box. 4% of all votes. More than 10,000 Swiss abroad and 30 citizens with disabilities are potentially affected, according to the State Chancellery of the canton, as these people can vote electronically.
They are now called to vote on paper and either put their ballots in the appropriate mailbox at the Town Hall or go to the polling station on Sunday. The State Chancellery admits that this is only possible in exceptional cases. The specific technical issue with the USB keys that caused the problem has not been disclosed.
It remains unknown whether the 1,800 electronic votes will be definitively invalidated or if there is a chance they can be recovered. Nothing indicates a link with the Swiss Post's electronic voting system or manipulation by a third party, emphasizes the State Chancellery. The canton's authorities regret the incident.
The canton is working with the help of Swiss Post to try to resolve the problem, with little hope of succeeding in time. It will then analyze carefully the cause of the problem to avoid similar errors in the future. The measures taken by the canton guarantee the integrity of the election, writes the Federal Chancellery, citing its counterpart in Basel-Stadt.
The possible consequences of this incident on federal issues can only be assessed after the publication of provisional results, it adds. In the elections being counted by Sunday afternoon, citizens of Basel-Stadt are voting only on federal issues. No cantonal vote is scheduled this weekend.
Basel-Stadt is part of a pilot project for electronic voting with three other Swiss cantons, where a limited number of voters can participate. Thurgau, Graubünden, and St. Gallen are not affected by the technical problem.