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Information for the cantons and candidate groups on the National Council election
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The Federal Council sends a bulletin to the cantons. The bulletin (D/F/I/R) contains instructions on the organisation of the elections (announcements, counting of ballots, determination of results, etc.).
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The Federal Chancellery publishes a practical guide with information for candidate groups. The guide (D/F/I/R) contains a range of useful information on the elections (nominations, rules to be observed, etc.).
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The Federal Council sends a bulletin to the cantons. The bulletin (D/F/I/R) contains instructions on the organisation of the elections (announcements, counting of ballots, determination of results, etc.).
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Deadline for registration in the Register of Political Parties
Parties can apply to be entered in the Register of Political Parties kept by the Federal Chancellery. This registration is not compulsory but gives parties access to administrative support.
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Deadlines for submitting nominations
By 1 March, each canton must notify the Federal Chancellery of its deadline for submitting candidate lists for the National Council. These deadlines are to be set on a Monday in August 2023. Cantons that are entitled to only one seat in the National Council and whose legislation does not provide for tacit elections do not need to notify the Federal Chancellery of a deadline.
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Changes to the Register of Political Parties
Parties registered in the Register of Political Parties must notify any changes to their registration (statutes, name and seat of the party, name and address of the persons in charge of the presidency and management of the party at federal level) by 1 May 2023, otherwise they will lose the right to the relevant administrative support.
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Deadlines for submitting nominations for the National Council in cantons with a system of proportional representation
The cantons set the deadline for submitting nominations to a Monday in August.
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Correction of candidate lists in cantons with a system of proportional representation
The cantons examine the candidate lists and set a deadline for the parties and candidates to make the necessary changes.
All corrections must be sent to the same authority by the second following Monday or by the first Monday if cantonal law provides for a shorter deadline. Lists not amended in time are null and void.
Each list shall be provided with a reference number. -
Sending the National Council voting instructions to the cantons
In September, the Federal Chancellery sends copies of the voting instructions for the National Council elections to the cantons where the system of proportional representation is in force. The cantons will add them to the voting material they send to voters.
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Deadlines for submitting candidate lists for the National Council in cantons with a majority system with the possibility of tacit election under cantonal law
Cantons with a majority system may provide for tacit election in their cantonal law in the event that only one valid nomination has been submitted to the competent authority. In these cantons, nominations must be submitted by noon on 4 September 2023.
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Sending election material for the National Council election
The cantons shall ensure that voters receive election material at least three, but no earlier than four weeks before election day. For Swiss citizens living abroad, the canton sends the voting material at the earliest one week before the voting material is sent to voters in Switzerland.
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Statistical analysis of lists and nominations for the National Council elections
On the page with information about the 2023 federal elections (available in German, French and Italian), the Federal Statistical Office publishes an analysis of the lists and nominations per party.
This page provides links to graphs, tables and files (some of these links are available in English) with more detailed information.
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Election day: live results
Follow the results canton by canton for the National Council and Council of States elections on the official website www.ch.ch/en/elections2023! The Federal Statistical Office also provides numerous graphs and constantly updated data on its website covering the 2023 elections . The Confederation’s Open Government Data platform (available in German, French and Italian) provides tables and links with further information on the elections.
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Publication of the results of the National Council elections in the official cantonal gazette
Each canton publishes the results of all candidates and lists in the official cantonal gazette no later than eight days after the National Council election.
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Deadlines for appeals against National Council elections' results
- Any appeals against National Council elections results must be lodged within three days of the discovery of the reason for appeal, but at the latest on the third day after publication of the results in the official cantonal gazette. Appeals must be sent by registered mail to the cantonal government.
- The cantonal government shall issue a decision on an appeal within 10 days of receipt of the appeal petition.
- Decisions of the cantonal governments on appeals concerning elections to the National Council can be challenged by appealing to the Federal Supreme Court within three days.
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Government report to the National Council and publication in the Federal Gazette
The results of the National Council elections are published in the Federal Gazette and on the website of the Federal Chancellery (available in German, French, Italian and Romansch).
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Constituent sitting of the National Council
The first meeting of the members of the new National Council takes place on 4 December 2023. On the same day, those elected swear the oath or make the solemn promise.
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Election of the Federal Council and the President of the Confederation
Every four years, Parliament fully renews the Federal Council and also elects the Federal Chancellor. On the same day, the Federal Assembly also elects the President of the Confederation and the Vice-President of the Federal Council.