Why voter turnout is so low in Switzerland

Switzerland’s system of direct democracy is often seen as an example for the rest of the world. Yet only a minority of eligible Swiss voters go to the polls. In countries like Australia, almost everyone goes to the polls. Nine in ten Australians cast their ballot in the last general election. In Uruguay, often referred to as “the Switzerland of South America”, more than 89% of voters turned out for the most recent election. Such numbers are hard to imagine in Switzerland. Compared…