Attachment V. Absolute Requirements for Permanent Peace: "Frequency of People's Participation in Politics and Voting" vs. the Constitutional Standards
1. "Switzerland" boasts the world’s highest per capita income in a century with a population of more than 8 million, for example, excluding referendums, each person needs to vote "5.41 times" every year
|
Election items |
Voting date |
Nos |
|
National House Election |
2003.10.19, 2007.10.21, 2011.10.23, 2015.10.18, 2019.10.20 |
5 |
|
Federal House Election |
2003.12.10, 2006.06.14, 2007.10.21, 2007.11.25, 2007.12.12, 2008.12.10, 2009.09.16, 2010.09.22, 2011.10.23, 2011.11.27, 2011.12.14, 2015.10.18, 2015.11.22, 2015.12.09, 2017.12.20, 2019.10.20, 2019.11.17 |
17 |
|
Zurich Cantonal Assembly |
2003.04.06, 2007.04.15, 2011.04.03, 2015.04.12, 2019.03.24 |
5 |
|
Zurich cantonal government elections |
2003.04.06, 2006.07.09, 2007.04.15,2009.11.29, 2011.04.03, 2015.04.12, 2019.03.24 |
7 |
|
Zurich City Council election |
2006.02.12, 2010.03.07, 2014.02.09, 2018.03.04 |
4 |
|
Zurich City Council Election |
2006.02.12, 2010.03.07, 2014.02.09, 2018.03.04 |
4 |
|
Election of city government officials and city administrators |
2006.02.12, 2010.03.07, 2014.02.09, 2018.03.04 |
4 |
|
Election of Justice of Peace |
2006.11.26, 2007.06.17, 2007.11.25, 2009.02.08, 2009.03.29, 2015.03.08, 2017.11.26, 2019.09.01 |
8 |
|
School authorities election |
2004.05.16, 2004.09.26, 2005.02.27, 2005.06.05, 2006.05.21, 2007.06.17, 2007.11.25, 2008.02.24, 2008.06.01, 2008.09.28, 2009.05.17, 2010.06.13, 2010.09.26, 2013.06.09, 2014.05.18, 2014.07.06, 2015.11.22, 2017.02.12, 2017.05.21, 2018.06.10, 2018.07.15, 2019.05.19, 2019.09.01 |
23 |
|
Zurich district council members by-election |
2006.02.12 |
1 |
|
Zurich District Court by-election |
2006.09.24, 2007.03.11 |
2 |
|
Zurich Regional Constituency By-election |
2006.09.24 |
1 |
|
Roman Catholic Church elections |
2007.03.11 |
1 |
|
Evangelical Reformed Church Election |
2007.03.11 |
1 |
|
Parish/District council election |
2006.02.12, 2010.03.07, 2014.02.09, 2018.03.04 |
4 |
|
Election of Governor of the Zurich Region |
2009.02.08 |
1 |
|
Public testifier |
2006.02.12, 2010.03.07, 2014.02.09, 2018.03.04 |
4 |
City of Zurich: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/
●The Comparison of Referendum in European Democracies: Issues, Timings and Results, Issues and results of Swiss referendums (1940-2007), Average 6.1 per year
|
issue type |
Passed |
Did not pass |
Total |
||||
|
Frequency |
Average voter turnout (%) |
Number of times |
Average voter turnout (%) |
Number of times |
Passing rate (%) |
Average voter turnout (%) |
|
|
Constitution and Institutions |
64 |
41.7 |
45 |
47.0 |
109 |
58.7 |
43.9 |
|
Sovereignty and territory |
8 |
49.1 |
5 |
53.5 |
13 |
61.5 |
50.8 |
|
Morality and life |
38 |
41.3 |
57 |
45.9 |
95 |
40.0 |
44.0 |
|
Economy and Society |
90 |
43.8 |
103 |
44.7 |
193. |
46.6 |
44.3 |
|
Issues that cannot be answered |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Total |
200 |
42.9 |
210 |
45.7 |
410 |
48.8 |
44.3 |
Source: C2D (Center for Research in Direct Democracy)
2. With a population of over 8 million, Switzerland has had the world’s highest per capita income for a century and stands as an example. Excluding election votes, each person must vote "3.82 times" in referendums each year
|
Year |
Voting dates |
No of Issues |
|
2003 |
February 9, May 18, September 7, November 30 |
30 |
|
2004 |
February 8, May 16, September 26, November 28 |
23 |
|
2005 |
February 27, June 5, September 25, November 27 |
22 |
|
2006 |
May 21, September 24, November 26 |
14 |
|
2007 |
March 11, June 17, November 25 |
19 |
|
2008 |
February 24, June 1, September 28, November 30 |
35 |
|
2009 |
February 28, May 17, September 27, November 29 |
25 |
|
2010 |
March 7, June 13, September 26, November 28 |
30 |
|
2011 |
February 13, May 15, September 4, November 27 |
37 |
|
2012 |
March 11, June 17, September 23, November 25 |
38 |
|
2013 |
March 3, June 9, September 22, November 24 |
29 |
|
2014 |
February 9, May 18, September 28, November 30 |
24 |
|
2015 |
March 8, June 14, November 22 |
18 |
|
2016 |
February 28, June 5, September 25, November 27 |
31 |
|
2017 |
February 12, May 21, September 24, November 26 |
29 |
|
2018 |
June 10, September 23, November 25 |
31 |
|
2019 |
February 10, March 4, May 19, September 1, November 17 |
15 |
Source: PPP and Zurich Statistics Office: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/prd/de/index/statistik/publikationen-angebote/datenbanken-anwendungen/abstimmungsdatenbank.html
portal/de/index/politik_u_recht/abstimmungen_u_wahlen/archiv_wahlen.html
3. Electronic Voting System of Switzerland
|
State name |
System |
|
Zurich Union System (The Consortium System) |
T The system was first developed by Canton of Zurich. Nine Cantons continue to participate in development. Since 2010, Fribourg, Solothurn, Canton of Aargaus, Schaffhausen, Gaozhou, St. Gallen and Canton of Grisons have been conducting experiments based on this system. Since 2015, the cantons of Zurich and Glarus have also adopted this system. |
|
The Geneva System: As the name suggests, Canton of Geneva has developed its own system. |
Canton of Basel-Stadt (since 2009), Canton of Lucerne (since 2010) and Canton of Berne (since 2012) have also conducted trials with electronic voting. |
|
The Neuchatel System |
The Neuchâtel system is only used in Neuchatel itself. It is different from the other two systems: the combination of business such as electronic voting is provided from the “Guichet Unique” online portal. |
|
Source: The Swiss Authorities Online. Compiled by Permanent Peace Partnership. |
|
4. For local governments or federal states take California, which has the highest per capita income among the 50 US states, as an example. The population is more than 40 million, and each voter goes to the polls on average 6 times each year
A. At the state level──California state elections
For 20 consecutive years (from 1996 to 2015), there were 120 voting days in total. Voting items include federal elections, state elections and referendums, county elections and referendums, city elections and referendums, public school elections and referendums.
|
Year |
Voting dates |
|
2015 |
March 03, March 10, March 17, May 19, November 03 |
|
2014 |
March 04, March 25, June 03, August 05, August 12, November 04, December 09 |
|
2013 |
March 03, March 05, March 12, May 14, May 21, June 23, July 23, September 17, September 24, November 05, November 19, December 03 |
|
2012 |
January 17, March 13, June 05, November 06, December 03 |
|
2011 |
February 15, March 08, May 17, July 12, November 08 |
|
2010 |
April 13, May 04, May 25, June, June 08, November 02 |
|
2009 |
March 03, March 24, April 21, May 05, May 19, June 23, June 30, July 14, September 01, September 22, November 03, December 08 |
|
2008 |
February 05, June 03, November 04, November 28, December 09 |
|
2007 |
March 06, May 15, June 05, June 12, June 26, August 21, September 25, November 06, December 11 |
|
2006 |
March 07, April 04, June 06, November 07 |
|
2005 |
March 08, May 17, November 08 |
|
2004 |
March 02, November 02 |
|
2003 |
January 28, March 04, April 15, May 20, June 03, September 23, October 07, November 04 |
|
2002 |
March 05, June 04, November 05, November 26 |
|
2001 |
March 06, April 10, April 20, May 15, June 05, September 11, October 23, November 06, December 11 |
|
2000 |
January 11, March 07, June 06, June 20, November 07 |
|
1999 |
March 03, April 13, April 20, June 08, November 02, December 14 |
|
1998 |
January 13, April 14, June 02, July 28, November 03 |
|
1997 |
April 01, June 01, June 03, November 04, November 18 |
|
1996 |
March 26, November 05, November 22 |
Sources: PPP and
(1). https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides/；
(2). https://ballotpedia.org/Local_ballot_measures,_California；
(3). http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/10
B. Municipal ── Los Angeles City Citizens elections
Mayor, City Council, Council Committee, City Superintendent, City Attorney
|
Year |
Voting dates |
|
2015 |
March 03, March 10, March 17, May 19, November 03 |
|
2014 |
March 04, March 25, June 03, August 05, August 12, November 04, December 09 |
|
2013 |
March 03, March 05, March 12, May 14, May 21, June 23, July 23, September 17, September 24, November 05, November 19, December 03 |
|
2012 |
January 17, March 13, June 05, November 06, December 03 |
|
2011 |
February 15, March 08, May 17, July 12, November 08 |
|
2010 |
April 13, May 04, May 25, June, June 08, November 02 |
|
2009 |
March 03, March 24, April 21, May 05, May 19, June 23, June 30, July 14, September 01, September 22, November 03, December 08 |
|
2008 |
February 05, June 03, November 04, November 28, December 09 |
|
2007 |
March 06, May 15, June 05, June 12, June 26, August 21, September 25, November 06, December 11 |
|
2006 |
March 07, April 04, June 06, November 07 |
|
2005 |
March 08, May 17, November 08 |
|
2004 |
March 02, November 02 |
|
2003 |
January 28, March 04, April 15, May 20, June 03, September 23, October 07, November 04 |
|
2002 |
March 05, June 04, November 05, November 26 |
|
2001 |
March 06, April 10, April 20, May 15, June 05, September 11, October 23, November 06, December 11 |
|
2000 |
January 11, March 07, June 06, June 20, November 07 |
|
1999 |
March 03, April 13, April 20, June 08, November 02, December 14 |
|
1998 |
January 13, April 14, June 02, July 28, November 03 |
|
1997 |
April 01, June 01, June 03, November 04, November 18 |
|
1996 |
March 26, November 05, November 22 |
C. Referendums and elections at the district level (counties, counties, cities...)【not included in these statistics】
5. United States Online Voter Registration System
Registration Requirements for General Voters
1. American Citizen
2. 18 years of age and above
3. Completing general voter registration at the place of residence or online voter registration
Sources of Constitution
undefined
Constitutional Amendment § 14 (Equal Protection Clause), Constitutional Amendment
§ 15, Constitutional Amendment §17, Constitutional Amendment §19, Constitutional
Amendment §23, Constitutional Amendment §24, Constitutional Amendment §26
|
Federal Law Voting Rights Act of 1965, Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, National Voter Registration Act of 1993, Help America Vote Act of 2002 |
||||
|
State |
Year Enacted |
Bill Number |
Year Implemented |
Website |
|
Alabama |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2016 |
Alabama Votes |
|
Alaska |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2015 |
Alaska Online Voter Registration |
|
Arizona |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2002 |
Arizona Online Voter Registration |
|
California |
2011 |
SB 397 |
2012 |
California Online Voter Registration |
|
Colorado |
2009 |
HB 1160 |
2010 |
Go Vote Colorado |
|
Connecticut |
2012 |
HB 5024 |
2014 |
Connecticut Online Voter Registration |
|
Delaware |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2014 |
I Vote Delaware |
|
District of Columbia |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2015 |
D.C. Voter Registration Form |
|
Florida |
2015 |
SB 228 |
2017 |
Register to Vote Florida |
|
Georgia |
2012 |
SB 92 |
2014 |
Georgia Online Voter Registration |
|
Hawaii |
2012 |
HB 1755 |
2015 |
Hawaii Online Voter Registration |
|
Idaho |
2016 |
SB 1297 |
2017 |
Idaho Online Voter Registration |
|
Illinois |
2013 |
HB 2418 |
2014 |
Illinois Online Voter Registration |
|
Indiana |
2009 |
HB 1346 |
2010 |
Indiana Online Voter Registration |
|
Iowa |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2016 |
Iowa Online Voter Registration |
|
Kansas |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2009 |
Kansas Online Voter Registration |
|
Kentucky |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2016 |
Kentucky Online Voter Registration |
|
Louisiana |
2009 |
HB 520 |
2010 |
Louisiana Online Voter Registration |
|
Maine |
2021 |
HB 804 |
2023 (anticipated) |
|
|
Maryland |
2011 |
HB 740 |
2012 |
Maryland Online Voter Registration |
|
Massachusetts |
2014 |
HB 3788 |
2015 |
Massachusetts Online Voter Registration |
|
Michigan |
2018 |
SB 425 |
2019 |
Michigan Online Voter Registration |
|
Minnesota (a) |
2014 |
HF 2096 |
2013 |
Minnesota Votes |
|
Missouri (b) |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2014 |
Vote Missouri |
|
Nebraska |
2014 |
LB 661 |
2015 |
Nebraska Online Voter Registration |
|
Nevada |
2011 |
AB 82 |
2012 |
Nevada Online Voter Registration |
|
New Jersey |
2020 |
SB 589 |
2020 |
New Jersey Online Voter Registration |
|
New Mexico |
2015 |
SB 643 |
2016 |
New Mexico Online Voter Registration |
|
New York (c) |
2019 |
AB 2005 (2019) |
2011 (no legislation at the time) |
New York Electronic Voter Registration |
|
North Carolina |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2020 |
North Carolina Voter Registration Application |
|
Ohio |
2016 |
SB 63 |
2017 |
Ohio Online Voter Registration |
|
Oklahoma (d) |
2015 |
SB 313 |
2018 (Phase I) |
Oklahoma Online Voter Registration |
|
Oregon |
2009 |
HB 2386 |
2010 |
Oregon Online Voter Registration |
|
Pennsylvania |
2002 |
SB 607 |
2015 |
Pennsylvania Online Voter Registration |
|
Rhode Island |
2016 |
SB 2513 |
2017 |
Rhode Island Online Voter Registration |
|
South Carolina |
2012 |
HB 4945 |
2012 |
South Carolina Online Voter Registration |
|
Tennessee |
2016 |
SB1626/HB1472 |
2017 |
Tennessee Online Voter Registration |
|
Utah |
2009 |
SB 25 |
2010 |
Utah Online Voter Registration |
|
Vermont |
n/a |
No legislation required |
2015 |
Vermont Online Voter Registration |
|
Virginia |
2013 |
HB 2341 |
2013 |
Virginia Online Voter Registration |
|
Washington |
2007 |
HB 1528 |
2008 |
Washington Online Voter Registration |
|
West Virginia |
2013 |
SB 477 |
2015 |
West Virginia Online Voter Registration |
|
Wisconsin |
2016 |
SB 295 |
2017 |
Wisconsin Online Voter Registration |
|
(a) Minnesota in 2013 made online voter registration available without enabling legislation but the legislature in 2014 authorized the state's system. |
||||
6. Non-registration voting systems among US states
(1) Obtaining electronic ballots: The US federal requirements under the Federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) require states to provide at least one electronic format email, fax or online delivery system to provide UOCAVA voters with blank absentee ballots; or, use the online federal written absentee ballot provided by the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provided by the federal government
(2) Ways to return electronic ballots
|
State |
|
Fax |
Web portal |
Mail-in |
ID |
Description |
||
|
Alabama |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
n 2016, Alabama implemented a portal for UOCAVA voters to return ballots. The system will only be implemented as a pilot project initially set for March 1, 2016. |
|||||
|
Alaska |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
||||
|
Arizona |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
California |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
In 2017 California promulgated AB 1013, allowing voters with disabilities or military/ overseas voters to vote using a certified, remotely accessible mail voting system. These regulations will take effect on January 1, 2020, or one year after the Secretary of State has certified an acceptable system. The requirement to provide remote access to the mail voting system does not apply to counties that conduct all-mail voting elections |
||||
|
Colorado |
● |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters, and only if more secure methods (such as mailing) are not available or feasible |
|
||
|
Delaware |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
District of Columbia |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Florida |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
In 2016 the state of Florida issued SB 184, which created a military and overseas voting assistance working group to study barriers to military voting overseas as well as the feasibility and cost of developing an online voting system |
||||
|
Hawaii |
● |
● |
Besides UOCAVA voters, all permanent absentee voters who have not received mailed ballots within five days of the election. |
In 2016 Hawaii promulgated the HB 1654 Act allowing all permanent absentee voters to request that their absentee ballots be sent to a temporary address during the election cycle. If the request is made within five days of the election, absentee ballots can be sent and returned by electronic transmission (or mail). |
||||
|
Idaho |
● |
● |
● |
Only citizens directly affected by “national or local emergency” declared by Secretary of State |
|
|||
|
Indiana |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Iowa |
● |
● |
● |
Only UOCAVA voters in areas eligible for emergency hazard pay or active military personnel located outside the US |
|
|||
|
Kansas |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Louisiana |
● |
● |
UOCAVA Voters and Voters with Disabilities |
In 2016 Louisiana HB 614 allowed electronic distribution of blank ballots to voters with disabilities and fax return of ballots by these voters. |
||||
|
Maine |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
In 2015, Maine passed SB 552, which authorizes the Secretary of State to authorize a method for electronically receiving UOCAVA voters’ absentee votes (possibly expanding the Songback method available to these voters. They can currently fax or E-mail back ballots marked by the voter) |
|||
|
Massachusetts |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Mississippi |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Missouri |
● |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters serving in a “hostile fire zone” |
|
||
|
Montana |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Nebraska |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Nevada |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
New Jersey |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters; they must also send physical photocopies of ballots by mail |
|
|||
|
New Mexico |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
North Carolina |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
North Dakota |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Oklahoma |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
||||
|
Oregon |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Rhode Island |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
||||
|
South Carolina |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
Texas |
● |
● |
Only those eligible for hostile fire/ imminent hazard pay or active military personnel (or their family members) in an area designated by the US President as a theater of operations |
|
||||
|
Utah |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters and voters with disabilities |
|
|||
|
Virginia |
● |
In 2014 Virginia passed SB 11 requiring the State Electoral Commission to develop secure electronic voting returns for UOCAVA voters |
||||||
|
Washington |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
|
|||
|
West Virginia |
● |
● |
● |
● |
UOCAVA voters |
West Virginia used blockchain technology to provide mobile voting applications in 2018, a first in the US. |
||
|
Source：https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/internet-voting.aspx Tabulate：Permanent Peace Partnership |
||||||||
7. Legislatures follow the Constitutional Standards rules on partial re-election every year. Parliamentary elections cannot be held on the same day as central-level elections. On average, there will be no more than two elections a year.
