As a reliable partner for the mailing of election and voting documents, Swiss Post offers the “election and voting consignment” service in addition to its traditional A Mail and B Mail shipping options. This service was specifically designed for mailing official election and voting documents and is aligned with the requirements for such consignments.

Key benefits:

• Greater flexibility when posting
• Minimum risk of damage
• No surcharge for special items
• No minimum quantities
• Free storage

You can post the election and voting documents on any working day in the calendar week before the legal deadline for delivery (posting week). Swiss Post ensures reliable delivery before the end of the subsequent calendar week (delivery week).

The “election and voting consignment” service is also available for cantonal and communal elections and votes or by-elections. The transport time for B Mail bulk consignments applies here.

Documents

Transport time for federal elections and votes

Public holidays:

• If the Friday of the posting week is a public holiday: for delivery during the subsequent week, please post consignments no later than the Thursday.
• If the Friday of the delivery week is a public holiday: Swiss Post will deliver consignments by the Saturday at the latest.

Transport time for cantonal and communal elections and votes or by-elections

The B Mail bulk mailing transport time applies to the shipping of documents for cantonal and communal elections and votes or by-elections. For by-elections, please note your canton’s applicable deadlines for the election and voting consignments being received by voters. Adjust the posting day to the transport time for B Mail bulk mailings to ensure punctual delivery.

Preconditions for using the range of services

To use the range of services, the following criteria must be satisfied:

• Sender: political municipalities or cantons
• Use of the certified two-way envelope
• Overprint of the data matrix code on the polling card
• Postage paid impression
• A billing relationship with Swiss Post

Restriction

The size of the consignment is limited to B5 and a maximum thickness of 20 mm. Larger or thicker consignments will be transported at the price and conditions of A Mail, B Mail or B Mail bulk mailing services.

The range of services does not apply when sending election and voting documents to Swiss citizens living abroad. In this case, you revert to the regular Swiss Post mailing services for international consignments (PRIORITY – or sometimes within Europe also ECONOMY).

You will find more detailed information in the “Election and voting consignment” factsheet.

Documents

The “election and voting consignment” service cannot be used if the two-way envelope or the polling card does not comply with the Swiss Post specifications and design guidelines. The envelope specifications and polling card design guidelines can be found in the “election and voting consignment” factsheet.

Election and voting consignments can be posted at any branch or any Swiss Post letter or logistics center from Monday to Friday of the week before delivery. Swiss Post can also collect your consignments directly from you on request. Election and voting consignments must be posted using a dispatch list/delivery note created online.