What happened. In an optional referendum on the Federal Act on Electronic Identification Services, 1,384,586 voters said yes and 1,363,362 no; turnout was 49.58% (final result, Federal Statistical Office). An earlier e-ID law was rejected on 7 March 2021, with opponents objecting mainly that private providers would issue the identity.
What the law does. According to the federal justice department, responsibility now lies solely with the Confederation, which issues the e-ID and runs the technical infrastructure. Use is voluntary and free, and public services remain available offline.
Why it matters. It is a rare case of voters deciding directly whether a national digital identity layer should be state-run, and the margin shows how contested the choice remains.
What to watch. Rollout of the federal wallet, uptake, and whether privacy safeguards hold in practice.