Act on the State Contribution to Election Campaign Expenses (LPFC) - Purpose (BWKG)

1. This law regulates the financial support provided by the state to political parties and voter groups for federal and cantonal elections.

2. The covering of printing costs and the distribution of voting lists are governed by the legislation concerning political rights.

3. The compensations for the factions of the Grand Council are regulated by the legislation regarding the Grand Council.

1. For each general election, the contributions to the election campaign costs of political parties and voter groups shall include

a) a fixed amount for general campaign expenses;

b) an amount that enables the covering of all costs for joint activities related to packaging and shipping the campaign material.

2. For by-elections, with the exception of those in the Grand Council, the contributions to the election campaign costs of political parties and voter groups shall include

a) a fixed amount for general campaign expenses, which corresponds to half of the last amount determined for the relevant election pursuant to paragraph 1, letter a;

b) an amount that enables the covering of all costs for joint activities related to packaging and shipping the campaign material.

3. ...

1. The fixed amount pursuant to Article 1a, paragraph 1, letter a, shall be rounded down to the nearest thousand in proportion to the sum of the final settlement of election campaign expenses published for cantonal general renewal elections under the legislation on political financing.

2. It corresponds to

a) for cantonal elections, 20% of the sum of such final settlements, with 45% of the amount allocated for the election to the Grand Council and 55% for the election to the State Council;

b) for national elections, 15% of the sum of such final settlements, with 25% of the amount allocated for the election to the Council of States and 75% for the election to the National Council.

3. Following the publication of the final settlement of election campaign expenses for the cantonal general renewal elections, the State Council shall issue a decree explicitly stating the overall results of these settlements and the fixed amounts that must be included in the state budget for the next general renewal elections.

4. The portion of the fixed amounts granted for general election campaign expenses for the election to the Grand Council shall be distributed among the electoral districts in proportion to the number of voters registered in the electoral register on election day.

1. In the general renewal and supplementary elections, political parties and voter groups are granted a contribution toward general election campaign costs in accordance with Article 1a, paragraph 1, letter a, and paragraph 2, letter a, provided their lists or candidates have received at least the following percentage of votes

a) 1% of the validly cast list votes in the National Council elections;

b) 1% of the validly cast candidate votes in the Council of States elections;

c) 1% of the validly cast list votes in the Grand Council elections;

d) 1% of the validly cast candidate votes in the Council of State elections.

1. The contribution shall also be granted in accordance with the ordinary provisions in an election that is conducted due to a limited number of candidates in accordance with the provisions regarding open elections.

2. However, only political parties and voter groups that have submitted a list can benefit from a contribution.

1. The tasks related to the packaging and dispatching of election propaganda material as defined in Article 1a paragraph 1 letter b and paragraph 2 letter b are considered to be jointly executed if a majority of the parties registered in the party register are involved.

2. For federal elections, joint activities may only be conducted once.

3. For cantonal elections, joint activities may only be conducted once per electoral district.

1. Political parties and voter groups that organize joint activities designate a single contact person among themselves, who is responsible for liaising with the State Chancellery.

2. The contact person validates the content and accuracy of the invoices and then sends them to the State Chancellery.

3. The State Chancellery regulates the details by means of a technical ordinance.

1. The transfer of the entire amount, part of the amount, or the refusal to transfer is subject to a decision by the State Chancellery. This decision is published in the official gazette and on the website of the State Chancellery in accordance with the law on information and access to documents for public information.

2. Political parties and voter groups that have not participated in the joint work of their own accord have no right to reimbursement of costs.

3. If one or more political parties or voter groups are excluded from the joint work by the majority of the other political parties or voter groups, no costs will be reimbursed. Exclusions for important reasons remain reserved.

1. The contribution is determined during the National Council and Grand Council elections in proportion to the votes received by the lists to be considered. It is established based on the final results.

1. For the Council of States and the State Council elections, the allocated amount is divided between the two rounds of voting; two-thirds are reserved for the first round, and one-third is reserved for the second round.

2. If only one round of voting takes place, the entire amount is distributed.

1. The contribution to political parties and voter groups is calculated for each election round in proportion to the votes of the candidates that are considered. It is determined based on the final results.

1. The State Chancellery is entrusted with the implementation of the measures under this law.

2. Its decisions may be appealed in accordance with the law on administrative legal proceedings.

1. For the national elections 2023, the amount determined by the Grand Council at the adoption of the 2023 budget must be taken into account for the allocation according to Article 1b paragraph 2 letter b.

1. If the law of February 18, 1976, concerning the exercise of civil rights (SGF 115.1) is still applicable to the cantonal elections of 2001, it shall be amended as follows

1. The State Council is entrusted with the execution of this law. It shall determine the date of commencement.