Could digital collection of signatures lead to more initiatives in Switzerland?

Calls for digital collection of signatures for popular initiatives and referendums, so-called "e-collecting", have grown louder following a forged signatures scandal in Switzerland. Earlier this month, the Swiss Senate voted in favour of a motion urging the swift implementation of digital signature collection. In parallel, steps are also being taken in Switzerland for the introduction of a digital ID scheme, or e-ID, slated for 2026. This would enable the easy verification of electronic signatures. However, its actual implementation is likely to take years, and the proposal remains contentious. What are the possible consequences? The adoption of e-collecting would eliminate the laborious process of gathering signatures on the street. An email campaign and a few clicks from supporters would suffice. Political analyst Mark Balsiger believes it will make signature collection much easier: “Popular initiatives could become even more popular,” he told Swiss public radio, SRF. This raises ...