Ensuring greater security: ethical hackers target Swiss Post’s e-voting system
For Swiss Post, security has top priority when it comes to e-voting. That’s why, for a number of years now, it has had its system tested by ethical hackers from around the globe – under real-world conditions. The public intrusion test in summer 2026 is an important element in identifying any vulnerabilities early on and continuously strengthening the system.
Attacks in the interest of security
During the public intrusion test (PIT) from 6 to 24 July 2026, ethical hackers will once again have the opportunity to target the voting system and look for vulnerabilities. This transparency is a deliberate choice and a legal requirement: when independent experts examine the system, potential vulnerabilities can be found and rectified. This helps make e-voting in Switzerland ever more secure.
New this year: extended testing option
In 2026, for the first time, Swiss Post is making the environment available in such a way that certain protective measures (network security measures) are deactivated. The outermost protective layer is effectively being removed for the attacks. These new test conditions differ from the real-world e-voting environment used for contests, but they enable more in-depth testing. Interested IT specialists have already registered with Swiss Post in advance for these extended tests. All other tests can be done without registration.
Swiss Post pays rewards of up to 230,000 euros
Swiss Post has made the security-related components and documents of its e-voting system publicly available since 2021. For confirmed vulnerabilities, known as bugs, the company pays rewards (bounties) of up to 230,000 euros. For the first three confirmed findings in the intrusion test, Swiss Post pays an additional bonus of 3,000 euros. Since the launch of the bug bounty programme for e-voting, Swiss Post has paid out a total of around 246,000 euros to ethical hackers for confirmed findings.So far, no one has found a critical security gap in Swiss Post’s e-voting system
Drei Jahre erfolgreicher Testbetrieb und Ausdehnung auf weitere Kantone und Gemeinden
Three years of successful test operation and extension to other cantons and municipalities
Since 2023, Swiss Post’s e-voting system has been operated successfully in several cantons and a growing number of municipalities. The cantons of Lucerne and Neuchâtel have also announced their intention to resume e-voting trials with the Swiss Post system in 2026. Lucerne received the corresponding basic licence from the Federal Council just a few days ago. Additionally, Swiss Post has continuously developed its system in terms of security, stability of operation and user guidance. For example, it has improved the e-voting portal so that voters find the voting process even more intuitive, while applying the highest security standards. E-voting is also designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Anyone interested can try out e-voting on the test platform at demo.evoting.ch. More information on e-voting and the cantons where the system is in use can be found at: https://www.bk.admin.ch/en/e-voting or www.evoting-info.ch
Swiss Post on your smartphone
Not just e-voting – other Swiss Post services enable customers to take care of various everyday issues digitally. Since 1 April, digital letters have been part of the universal postal service in addition to physical mail. With the Digital letter, Swiss Post customers can choose between sending and receiving their letters physically or digitally – depending on their needs. And thanks to the new Post-App, customers can carry out numerous postal transactions digitally. They can track consignments in real time, manage their arrival flexibly or frank letters and parcels directly via smartphone. Parcels can be collected by the mail carrier at home or from any address. The Post-App also offers easy access to My Post 24 terminals, which can be found in many locations in Switzerland and are available around the clock.