Dear e-voting enthusiasts and members of the e-voting community
This year’s public intrusion test (PIT) has ended. Security experts once again put Swiss Post’s e-voting system to the test – this year, they once again provided valuable feedback that supports the continuous development of the system.
To ensure that the system continues to meet the high security requirements in the future, we rely on transparency, external expertise and regular checks. This issue of the newsletter focuses on the findings from the PIT 2026, the further development of the PIT format and other current topics related to e-voting.
Enjoy reading it, and I look forward to hearing your views.
PIT 2026: high level of participation and valuable reports
The 2026 public intrusion test (PIT) of Swiss Post’s e-voting system has ended. From 6 to 24 July, the international security community tested a production-oriented live environment throughout the electronic voting process. In addition, this year’s public intrusion test featured extended testing options: 20 selected security researchers were able to test the system in greater depth.
Participation was significantly higher than the previous year: in total, more than 403'000 accesses from 5,479 different IP addresses from 107 countries were registered, of which around 48'000 can be classified as attacks. Swiss Post received 85 reports, six of which were confirmed as findings. No critical vulnerabilities were identified. One finding was classified as high, one as medium and four as low. The finding that was classified as high concerned the availability of the voting server, but not the integrity or confidentiality of the votes. The digital ballot box and the security of the votes cast remained intact.
Confirmed findings are analysed as part of the continuous improvement process and implemented as a priority. Around 38'000 Swiss francs were paid out in bounty rewards for the validated reports. Further details on the test structure, scope, methodology and classification of findings can be found in the PIT final report.
BärnHäckt 2026: e-voting challenge wins Public Award
At the 2026 BärnHäckt hackathon held from 21 to 23 August, e-voting was once again the focus of discussions with the tech and security community. Swiss Post was represented by two challenges, addressing different perspectives on electronic voting: security, accessibility and comprehensible communication of complex cryptographic processes.
Particularly encouraging: the Swiss Post challenge “Explain Swiss Post E-Voting Through a Game” by the “World of VoteCraft” group received the Public Award 2026. The project playfully demonstrated how key concepts of e-voting – such as verifiability, trust and system transparency – can be made accessible to a wider target group.
Such hackathon formats are valuable for the further development of e-voting: they create a practical framework for discussing technical issues with external experts, testing new communication methods and incorporating feedback from the community. The Public Award highlights that security and transparency not only have to be implemented technically, but also explained clearly.
The Canton of Neuchâtel will launch e-voting from November 2026. This expands the number of cantons that use Swiss Post’s e-voting system in accordance with the Confederation’s requirements.
On 24 June 2026, the Canton of Lucerne also received a two-year basic licence for the trial introduction of e-voting. From September 2026, Swiss citizens resident abroad will initially be eligible to vote electronically; from 2028, an extension to selected pilot municipalities is planned.
Save the dates: events in 2026 with the e-voting team
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