Swiss voters back electronic identity cards in close vote

Pollsters confounded by 50.4% support for e-IDs after forecasting stronger backing for ‘yes’ vote

Swiss voters have backed plans for electronic identity cards by a wafer-thin margin, in the second nationwide vote on the issue.

In a referendum on Sunday, 50.4% of voters supported an electronic ID card, while 49.6% were against, confounding pollsters who had forecast stronger support for the “yes” vote. Turnout was 49.55%, higher than expected.