Act on Voting and Election Rights (StWG) - Scope (StWG)

1. This law regulates the exercise of voting and electoral rights in the canton and in the political municipalities, school communities, and citizen communities. It also governs the implementation of federal legislation on political rights.

2. The right to vote and electoral rights includes the right to participate in referendums and elections, to be elected, as well as to initiate and sign petitions.

1. The municipal code may provide that young residents or settled foreign nationals in the municipality may participate in an advisory capacity, in particular by attending the municipal assembly and expressing opinions.

1. The right to vote is exercised at the political place of residence, namely in the municipality where the eligible voter resides and is registered.

1. The voting and electoral rights of itinerants are limited to federal matters and are governed by federal law.

1. The voting and electoral rights for Swiss citizens living abroad are limited to federal matters and are governed by federal law.

2. Voting is carried out at the competent cantonal authority.

1. Persons elected by the people may only hold office if they have their residence within the jurisdiction of the office.

2. In justified cases, the electoral approval authority may permit the assumption of office before the residence is relocated to the jurisdiction. It shall establish an appropriate transition period and regulate the consequences of non-compliance.

3. For election to the Grand Council, residence within the electoral district is required from the time of submission of the nomination proposal until the election. Elected members remain in office if they move to another electoral district within the canton.

4. Members of the municipality's audit commission are exempt from the residency requirement.

1. Each municipality maintains an electoral roll.

2. The political municipalities may assume this responsibility for the school, citizen, and church municipalities by mutual agreement.

3. The canton maintains the electoral roll for Swiss citizens living abroad.

4. The electoral roll is open for inspection by those eligible to vote.

1. Entries and deletions in the voter register are to be carried out ex officio.

2. Prior to a vote or election, entries are to be made up to the fifth day before the voting day, provided it is certain that the conditions for participation on the voting day are met.

1. The day of the vote is considered to be the date of a vote or election as determined by the competent authority.

2. The Government Council determines the date for cantonal votes and elections.

3. The Government Council sets the time frame for the complete renewal of municipal authorities. This applies to the first and any potential second round of elections.

4. The municipal authority determines the date for municipal votes and elections.

1. In federal and cantonal referendums and elections, the State Chancellery serves as the cantonal election office.

1. The polling station of the municipality is overseen by the chairperson of the municipal authority.

2. The secretariat is managed by the municipal clerk in political municipalities, and by the clerk of the municipal authority in other municipalities.

3. The other members of the polling station are chosen by the municipality from its eligible voters. The majority of these members must not belong to the municipal authority.

4. The polling station supervises the voting process and determines the results of referendums and elections. It may enlist additional persons to assist in determining the results.

5. The polling officers of the political municipalities can, by mutual agreement, also be enlisted by school, citizen, and church municipalities, as well as by the canton, for the voting process of Swiss citizens abroad.

1. The members of the electoral office and the individuals engaged in determining the results are obliged to maintain the confidentiality of the vote.

1. The municipal authority shall designate a sufficient number of polling stations.

2. Polling stations shall generally be set up in public buildings.

3. Access to polling stations may not be obstructed.

1. On the day of the vote, the ballot boxes must remain open for at least half an hour and be closed no later than 11:30 a.m.

2. The municipality shall facilitate early voting on at least two of the last four days before the voting day, either at the ballot box or by submission in a sealed envelope at a designated location within the municipal administration.

3. Postal voting is permitted from the time the voting materials are delivered. The vote must be received by the time the ballot boxes close.

1. Spouses or persons in a registered partnership may represent each other at the ballot box or during early voting, provided they live in the same household.

2. Eligible voters who are permanently unable to write due to a disability or for another reason may authorize another eligible voter of their choice to fill out the voting or election ballots according to their wishes and to perform the necessary actions for postal voting.

1. Eligible voters who are permitted to vote electronically may cast their vote electronically from the opening of the electronic ballot box until no later than 12:00 PM on the day before the voting day.

2. The verification of voting eligibility, the secrecy of the vote, and the recording of all votes must be ensured, and abuses must be excluded. Only systems approved by the federation may be used.

3. The government council may, in agreement with interested municipalities, authorize trials of electronic voting that are limited in location, time, and subject matter.

1. The counting of votes may only begin on the day of the vote.

2. Preparations for the counting may be made no earlier than three days before the day of the vote, in the presence of at least two members of the electoral office, in particular

1. Opening of the postal submissions;

2. Verification of voting rights certificates;

3. Separation of voting rights certificates from ballot envelopes.

3. Correctly submitted ballot envelopes must remain unopened and secured until the commencement of the counting.

1. Results may only be published after the completion of the counting and no earlier than 11:30 a.m.

1. A ballot or voting slip is invalid if it

1. is not official;

2. is filled out or altered in any way other than handwritten;

3. does not clearly indicate the voter's intent;

4. contains defamatory remarks;

5. is obviously marked;

6. was submitted in a manner not provided for by law;

7. does not include the name of an eligible candidate in proportional elections.

2. Ballots and voting slips submitted by mail are also invalid if

1. they are not placed inside the ballot envelope;

2. the voting permit is not signed;

3. the package contains more ballot envelopes than voting permits;

4. the ballot envelope also contains the voting permit;

5. the ballot envelope contains more than one ballot or voting slip per voting item or election.

3. The number of invalid ballots and voting slips shall be determined and disclosed.

4. Ballots and voting slips submitted without a voting permit or submitted late are disregarded and not counted.

1. Valid voting or election ballots that contain neither a Yes nor a No to the voting question, or no names, are counted as blank voting or election ballots.

1. If a valid ballot contains fewer names than the number of persons to be elected, the remaining lines shall be counted as blank votes.

2. Names of ineligible persons shall be counted as invalid votes.

1. The decisive factor for determining the result is the valid votes. These are the remaining votes after deducting the blank and invalid voting or election ballots, as well as the blank and invalid votes.

2. Subject to the special provisions for proportional elections.

1. The results of the count are to be documented and forwarded to the competent authority.

2. The ballots and voting certificates are to be kept securely. Destruction shall occur

1. in the case of elections, after their approval;

2. in the case of referendums, no earlier than three months after the referendum day and not before the final conclusion of any legal appeals.

1. A recount shall be ordered by the election office or the competent department if there are indications that an erroneous result may have been determined.

1. The Government Council may, after consulting the municipalities, issue special provisions for the determination of voting or election results using technical means.

1. The voting materials include the voting rights certificate, the ballot papers, a ballot envelope, and the proposals with messages.

2. A separate ballot paper must be used for each proposal. Exemptions apply to votes on popular initiatives with a counter-proposal.

1. The messages are drafted by the Cantonal Executive Council for cantonal proposals and by the municipal authority for municipal proposals. The competencies of the Grand Council or special regulations in the municipal ordinances are reserved.

2. The message contains a factual explanation of the proposal. For proposals debated in the parliament, the most important positions represented there must be explained.

3. For messages regarding initiatives and facultative referendums, the arguments communicated by the initiating committees are to be appropriately reproduced. Statements that are defamatory, grossly untrue, or excessively lengthy may be rejected or altered. References by the committees to electronic sources are not permitted.

1. Municipalities send the voting materials such that they arrive with the eligible voters no earlier than four weeks and no later than three weeks before the voting day. Drafts and messages may be delivered earlier.

2. Municipalities may deliver drafts with messages to each household only once, unless a voting-eligible household member requests personal delivery.

1. A proposal is adopted if the number of affirmative votes exceeds the number of negative votes.

1. Cantonal Elections are the elections mentioned in § 20 paragraph 1 of the Cantonal Constitution (CC).

2. Cantonal Elections, with the exception of the election of the Grand Council, are conducted using the majority voting system.

1. Municipal Elections: Municipal elections are those elections to be conducted by the populace in accordance with the Law on Municipalities (GemG) or the municipal constitution.

2. Municipal elections are conducted using the majority voting system, unless the municipal constitution prescribes the proportional voting system for certain authorities.

1. The voting materials include the voting card, the ballot papers, a ballot envelope, and during the first round of majority elections, a list of candidates.

1. The election materials must be delivered to the eligible voters no later than three weeks before the voting day in the first rounds of majority elections, and no later than ten days before the voting day for other elections.

1. The draw decides in the following cases

1. several candidates receive the same number of votes for a single seat;

2. several candidates are simultaneously elected to a body to which they cannot belong simultaneously due to their degree of kinship;

3. several members of the government council are simultaneously elected to the federal assembly.

2. The affected candidates and the representative of the nomination proposal must be given the opportunity to attend the drawing of lots.

3. Before the drawing of lots, the competent authority inquires about any possible declarations of withdrawal.

4. The lot is drawn manually.

1. Cantonal Elections as well as Elections for the Municipal Parliament and Municipal Authority Require Approval

1. of the Grand Council for elections to the Grand Council and the Executive Council;

2. of the Executive Council for Council of States elections;

3. of the competent department of the Executive Council for other elections.

1. Preliminary elections must be announced by the 69th day before the voting day. At the same time, it must be indicated that proposals for inclusion on the list of names can be submitted until the 55th day before the voting day.

1. The nominees shall be designated with their last name, first name, gender, date of birth, place of origin, profession and residential address, as well as party affiliation and the remark "incumbent," if applicable.

2. Election proposals must be confirmed by the nominees themselves with their signature and, in the case of elections to the Council of State and the Council of Senators, signed by at least 50 other eligible voters residing in the electoral district, and for other elections, by at least ten such voters. Signatures cannot be withdrawn.

3. For election proposals of incumbents, their own signature is sufficient.

1. Based on the election proposals submitted in due time, a list of names is compiled, listing first the current members and then the other candidates in alphabetical order, regardless of the order of submission.

2. The nominees shall be identified by last name, first name, date of birth, profession, and place of residence, as well as their party affiliation, if applicable, and the note "incumbent."

3. The list of names must indicate that other persons may also be elected.

4. For second rounds of voting, no list of names is compiled.

1. The ballot contains one or more blank lines corresponding to the number of authority members to be elected.

1. The result of the first ballot is determined by the absolute majority.

2. If more individuals reach the absolute majority than are to be elected, those with the most votes are elected. The others are not elected and are eliminated as surplus.

3. If fewer individuals reach the absolute majority than are to be elected, a second ballot is to be conducted.

4. In elections to municipal authorities, § 58a GemG remains reserved.

1. The number of relevant votes is divided by twice the number of members to be elected to the authority. The next higher whole number is the absolute majority.

1. The run-off election is to be conducted no earlier than three weeks after the first election.

2. A blank ballot without a list of names will be sent for the election.

3. Individuals who were not candidates in the first election can also be elected.

4. The decisive factor is the relative majority.

1. An elected person may decline the election within five days after the polling day.

2. To fill the vacant seat, a second round of voting or an additional round of voting following the rules of the second round shall take place.

1. The municipal code may provide for silent elections for individual bodies, with the exception of the municipal authority.

2. The municipality shall issue procedural provisions, particularly concerning the submission deadline, content, and signing of the election proposals.

1. Persons who wish to resign from district courts, offices of justices of the peace, or municipal authorities during their term of office must submit a sufficiently justified request for release.

2. The decision on the release is made by

1. the government council in the case of resignations from district courts or offices of justices of the peace;

2. the competent department in the case of resignations of chairpersons of a municipal authority;

3. the municipal authority in the case of other resignations. If it is unable to form a quorum due to multiple resignations, the department decides.

1. If the request for dismissal is approved, a replacement election must be conducted.

2. The first round of voting must be conducted within six months, and any potential second round of voting thereafter within four months.

3. A replacement election may be waived if the fulfillment of duties is ensured and the regular election for the new term of office takes place within six months.

1. The Executive Council determines the number of Grand Council mandates per district. In doing so, it applies correspondingly the provisions concerning the allocation of National Council mandates. The decisive factor is the resident population according to cantonal statistics at the end of the third calendar year of the current term of office.

1. Election proposals must be submitted by the 69th day before the election day as follows

1. The election proposal must have a list designation that distinguishes it from other election proposals.

2. The election proposal must not contain more persons than the mandates allocated to the electoral district.

3. The proposed candidates must be identified by their surname, first name, gender, date of birth, place of origin, profession, and residential address, including, if applicable, the note "incumbent."

4. The election proposal must be signed by at least 25 eligible voters residing in the electoral district, subject to § 49.

5. The election proposal must be confirmed by the proposed candidates with their signature.

6. A person responsible for the election proposal, along with a deputy, must be designated.

2. A person may only be listed as a candidate on one election proposal.

3. A person may only sign one election proposal.

4. Signatures on election proposals cannot be withdrawn.

1. Political parties duly registered with the Federal Chancellery are exempt from the quorum of 25 signatory eligible voters.

2. The nomination proposal must be signed by two persons who are authorized to represent the party in the district.

1. Ballot papers shall be prepared in the form of lists based on the electoral proposals.

2. The lists shall be numbered.

3. The persons proposed shall be listed with their surname, first name, profession, and place of residence on the lists, and, if applicable, with the notation "incumbent."

1. Two or more lists may be combined up to the 62nd day before the election day through concordant declarations by the signing eligible voters or their representatives. Within a list alliance, only sub-list alliances are permitted.

2. Sub-list alliances are valid between lists of the same designation, differing solely by an addition indicating gender, age, faction within a group, or region.

3. List and sub-list alliances must be noted on the lists. They cannot be revoked.

1. All electoral district lists as well as a blank list are to be delivered to the eligible voters.

1. Anyone using a pre-printed list can strike out names, list the name of the same person twice (cumulative voting), or enter names from other pre-printed lists (cross-voting), as well as strike out or replace the list designation and list number with another.

2. Anyone using a blank list can enter names from the pre-printed lists and affix a list designation or list number.

3. The same name may appear no more than twice on a list.

4. No more persons may be listed on the list than there are mandates to be filled.

1. The Number of Party Votes Comprises

1. the candidate votes, meaning the votes received by the candidates on the same party list;

2. the additional votes, meaning the number of blank lines or lines freed by crossing out on the lists of the same party.

1. The total number of party votes for all lists is divided by the number of mandates to be distributed, increased by one. The quotient rounded up to the nearest whole number is called the distribution number.

2. Each list is allocated as many mandates as the distribution number is contained in its number of votes.

1. If not all seats are allocated after the first distribution, the remaining seats are assigned individually and successively as follows

1. The number of votes for each list is divided by the number of mandates already allocated to it, increased by one.

2. The next mandate is allocated to the list with the highest quotient.

3. If several lists have the same claim to the next mandate, it is given to the list that achieved the highest remainder in the division according to § 55 paragraph 2.

4. If several lists still have the same claim, the mandate goes to the list with the highest party vote number.

5. If several lists still have the same claim, the list that has the candidate with the highest number of votes eligible for election receives the next mandate.

2. This procedure is repeated until all mandates are allocated.

1. Each group of interconnected lists shall initially be treated as a single list during the distribution of mandates.

2. The mandates shall be distributed among the individual lists of the group in accordance with § 55 and § 56.

1. From each list, the individuals who have received the most votes are elected according to the mandates achieved.

2. The individuals who are not elected become substitute members in the order of the votes received.

1. If a list is allocated more mandates than it has persons listed, a list supplementation or supplementary election shall be conducted according to § 61 for the additional mandates.

1. Should an elected person leave office before the end of their term, the substitute with the highest number of votes shall succeed them. If that person cannot or does not wish to assume the office, the next highest will take their place.

2. A person can only succeed to the office if they still belong to the grouping for whose list they were a candidate.

3. Changes in party affiliation of elected persons do not result in the loss of their mandate.

1. If a seat cannot be filled by succession, the signatories of the list to which the departed member belonged have the right to submit a nomination. This nomination requires the approval of the majority of all remaining eligible signatories of the list.

2. If the signatories of the list do not exercise their right to propose, a by-election shall take place. If multiple seats are to be filled, the provisions regarding the proportional representation system shall apply; otherwise, those regarding the majority voting system shall be used.

1. The provisions of the Federal law concerning the election of the National Council shall apply mutatis mutandis as supplementary law to the election of the Grand Council, insofar as cantonal regulations are lacking.

1. Nomination Proposals for National Council Elections must be submitted to the State Chancellery by the 69th day before the election day.

1. For proportional elections of municipal authorities, the same deadlines apply as for the election of the Grand Council. Otherwise, the provisions of the municipality apply.

2. The cantonal provisions for the election of the Grand Council are applicable mutatis mutandis as supplementary law, insofar as municipal regulations are lacking.

1. The provisions concerning voting and elections at the ballot box apply analogously to the municipal assembly, unless otherwise specified below.

2. The following provisions, in particular, are not applicable

1. Voting procedure (§ 15 to § 16);

2. Announcement of the election (§ 36);

3. Nomination of candidates (§ 37);

4. List of names (§ 38).

1. The distribution of voting materials is carried out in accordance with the municipal ordinance.

2. No ballot papers, election papers, or ballot paper envelopes are sent with the voting materials.

1. After the discussion has concluded, the chairperson of the municipal assembly compiles the motions and proceeds to a vote.

2. Multiple mutually exclusive motions are compared pairwise against each other until only one motion remains. This single motion is then brought to a final vote.

1. Votes shall be conducted openly unless the municipal code provides for a secret ballot or at least one-quarter of the voters approve a motion for a secret ballot. This motion shall not be subject to discussion.

2. The result of an open vote shall be determined by the tellers.

3. If clear majorities are evident, counting of the votes may be dispensed with.

4. If no clear majorities are evident, the vote shall be repeated, and the votes shall be counted aloud.

1. Elections are to be conducted by secret ballot.

2. The selection of the election office and commissions is conducted openly and collectively, unless the municipal regulations or at least a quarter of the voters request a secret ballot. This motion shall not be subject to discussion.

1. If an elected person is present at the municipal assembly, they must immediately declare after the election whether they accept the election.

2. If the election is declined, the second or subsequent round of voting shall be conducted immediately, unless the assembly decides to postpone it.

1. The signature sheet must include the title and the full text of the initiative. The title must not be misleading, cause confusion, or contain any commercial or personal advertising.

2. Furthermore, the signature sheet must contain the following information

1. the municipality in which the signatories are eligible to vote;

2. the names, first names, date of birth, address, and signature of the signatories;

3. the text of the certificate of voting rights;

4. the address to which the signature sheet is to be returned;

5. the names, first names, and addresses of the members of the initiative committee;

6. the withdrawal clause specifying who has the right to withdraw;

7. a notice that it is a criminal offense to falsify the outcome of a signature collection for a referendum, or to bribe or be bribed during the signature collection process.

1. Prior to the commencement of the collection of signatures, the signature list must be submitted to the State Chancellery for formal examination.

2. If the formal requirements in accordance with § 71 are not met, the State Chancellery shall inform the members of the initiative committee by decision of the necessary corrections to be made.

3. If the formal requirements in accordance with § 71 are met, the State Chancellery shall publish the title and text of the initiative in the Official Gazette, indicating the deadline for the initiative. The publication shall occur in consultation with the members of the initiative committee, but no later than 60 days after the notification of the positive preliminary examination result.

4. The deadline for the initiative begins on the date of publication. From this date, signatures may be collected.

1. The eligible voter must sign the signature list by hand.

2. The additional information necessary for establishing identity, such as name, first name, date of birth, and address, must be legible.

3. An initiative may only be signed once by the same person.

1. Signature lists must be delivered to the designated municipality for certification in a timely manner before the deadline.

2. The municipality certifies the number of valid signatures free of charge and sends the verified lists to the initiative committee within five working days.

3. The determining factor for voting eligibility is the time the signature list arrives at the municipality.

4. The refusal of the voting rights certification must be justified with a brief explanation.

5. Voting rights certification can be conducted collectively for multiple lists.

1. The signature lists provided with the voting certificate must be submitted in full to the State Chancellery before the expiration of the initiative deadline.

2. The lists will not be returned and may not be inspected.

1. The State Chancellery examines whether the submitted signatures are certified. It determines the overall result of the valid signatures.

1. The Executive Council determines whether the initiative has been successful.

2. It publishes its decision in the Official Gazette, promptly forwards a successful initiative to the Great Council, and informs the members of the initiative committee.

1. The initiative must maintain the unity of subject matter and form.

2. The unity of subject matter is preserved if there is a material connection between the individual parts of an initiative.

3. The unity of form is preserved if the initiative is submitted exclusively in the form of a general suggestion or a fully drafted proposal.

1. The withdrawal of a popular initiative is permissible until the government council has set the date of the vote.

2. An initiative in the form of a general proposal can no longer be withdrawn once it has been followed by the Grand Council.

3. The withdrawal declaration must be signed by the majority of the remaining eligible voting members of the initiative committee.

1. The Grand Council decides on the initiative within one year after the submission of the signatures.

2. The Grand Council may not alter the text of the initiative. Exceptions are corrections of obvious errors or editorial deficiencies, as well as necessary adjustments if the Grand Council declares the initiative partially invalid.

1. If the Grand Council approves an initiative submitted as a general suggestion, the Government Council will typically present a proposal to it within two years. This proposal is usually to be conclusively dealt with within one year. If the proposal concerns a revision of the constitution, a referendum must be conducted within an additional six months.

2. If the Grand Council approves an initiative submitted as a fully drafted proposal aiming at a revision of the constitution, a referendum must be conducted within six months of the decision.

1. If the Grand Council rejects the initiative without a counter-proposal, it must be submitted to a popular vote within six months of the decision.

2. If the populace approves an initiative submitted as a general suggestion, the subsequent procedure shall be governed by § 81 paragraph 1.

1. If the Grand Council wishes to present a counterproposal to the initiative, it must resolve to do so within one year.

2. Before setting the date for the popular vote, the State Chancellery grants the members of the initiative committee a period of 30 days during which the initiative can be withdrawn.

3. If the initiative is withdrawn, the counterproposal shall be further processed in accordance with § 81.

4. If the initiative is not withdrawn, it shall be submitted to a popular vote, along with the counterproposal, within six months after the expiration of the withdrawal period.

5. If the public approves a proposal in the form of a general suggestion, the further procedure shall follow § 81 paragraph 1.

1. If an initiative is submitted to the electorate for a vote alongside a counterproposal, both proposals and a tie-breaking question shall be presented to the voters on the same ballot. Each eligible voter can unreservedly declare

1. whether they wish to approve the popular initiative;

2. whether they wish to approve the counterproposal;

3. which proposal they prefer, should both be accepted.

2. The number of yes and no votes for each proposal, as well as the result of the tie-breaking question, shall be determined separately. Blank or invalid votes are disregarded.

3. If both the popular initiative and the counterproposal are approved, the result of the tie-breaking question shall decide the outcome.

4. In the event of a tie in the tie-breaking question, the proposal with the higher number of yes votes prevails.

1. Laws and resolutions of the Grand Council that are subject to an optional referendum shall be published by the State Chancellery in the Official Gazette. Simultaneously, the end of the period within which a referendum can be requested shall be announced.

2. If no referendum is requested within the deadline, the State Chancellery shall announce this in the Official Gazette.

1. The signature list must include the title and date of the law or resolution.

2. Furthermore, the signature list must contain the following information

1. the municipality in which the signatories are eligible to vote;

2. last name, first name, date of birth, address, and signature of the signatories;

3. the text of the certificate of voting rights;

4. the address to which the signature list is to be returned;

5. a note indicating that it is a criminal offense to falsify the result of a signature collection for a referendum or to bribe or accept a bribe during the signature collection.

3. Withdrawal of the request is excluded.

1. The procedure from the signing of the signature lists to the determination of the establishment of the request is governed by the provisions concerning the popular initiative (§ 73 to § 77).

1. The Dismissal of the Grand Council or the Government Council must be requested through a separate petition with a signature list.

2. The signature list must contain the following information

1. the municipality where the signatories are eligible to vote;

2. the names, first names, date of birth, address, and signature of the signatories;

3. the text of the voting rights certification;

4. the address to which the signature list must be returned;

5. the notice that anyone who falsifies the result of a signature collection for a public initiative or who offers or accepts a bribe during the signature collection commits a criminal offense.

3. A withdrawal of the petition is excluded.

1. The procedure from the signing of the signature lists to the determination of the establishment of the request is governed by the provisions concerning the popular initiative (§ 73 to § 77).

1. The admissibility of popular initiatives in municipalities is governed by the Municipalities Act and the Municipal Code.

2. The procedure is determined by the provisions of this section.

3. The Municipal Code may establish additional regulations. In the absence of such regulations, the provisions for corresponding cantonal popular initiatives apply accordingly.

1. The signature list for a popular initiative or for an optional referendum must meet the requirements of the corresponding cantonal popular request.

2. In the case of a popular initiative, the date on which the collection of signatures begins must also be specified.

3. For requests to convene the municipal assembly, the provisions on the popular initiative apply mutatis mutandis.

1. The signature lists must be submitted to the municipal office within three months after the commencement of the signature collection.

2. The lists will not be returned and may not be inspected.

1. The municipal authority certifies, based on the electoral register, which signatories are entitled to vote.

2. It determines whether the request has been successful and publishes the result.

1. The competent municipal authority shall decide on the initiative no later than one year after the submission of the signature lists.

2. A valid initiative must be submitted to a popular vote no later than six months after the decision.

3. If a counterproposal is presented alongside the initiative, the corresponding provisions for cantonal initiatives shall apply mutatis mutandis (§ 83 and § 84).

1. If the request for the conduct of a referendum is successful, it must be carried out within six months following the submission of the signature lists.

1. If the request for the convening of a municipal assembly is successful, it must be held within six months after the submission of the signature lists.

1. Eligible voters may file an appeal for violation of voting and election rights, including legal violations in the preparation and conduct of referendums or elections. The appeals authority for referendums and municipal elections is the competent department, while for other elections, it is the approval authority.

2. Decisions of the State Chancellery related to referendums, elections, or popular initiatives are subject to appeal to the Administrative Court.

3. Messages from the Government Council on cantonal proposals cannot be challenged through any cantonal legal remedy.

4. Legal remedies related to federal referendums or elections are governed by federal law.

1. Appeals must be submitted by registered mail, no later than the third day after

1. the official publication of the results of votes and elections at the ballot box;

2. the municipal assembly;

3. the communication of decisions by the state chancellery.

2. Regardless of this deadline, alleged legal violations must be immediately contested upon their discovery, and in the case of municipal assemblies, they must be contested during the assembly itself. If the complaint is made belatedly, the appeal will not be entertained.

1. Cantonal legal remedies have a suspensive effect unless such effect is withdrawn by the appeal or complaint authority for specific reasons.

2. Cantonal legal remedies against elections have a suspensive effect only if it is granted by the appeal or complaint authority.

1. The result of a vote or election shall be annulled if the alleged legal violations were of a nature and magnitude sufficient to decisively influence the outcome.

2. Legal violations that did not decisively influence the result shall be formally recorded.