Public Consultation Survey

A consultation survey is not a vote, and presenting it as one is the fastest way to lose the trust it was meant to build. It gathers opinion from whoever chose to respond — a self-selected group, weighted towards people with time and a strong view. Designed and reported honestly, that is still valuable input. Reported as a result, it is a problem.

Reporting it honestly

Best practice is to present a summary report that distinguishes between stakeholder categories, highlights majority positions on each measure, and gives representative examples of qualitative feedback. Authorities should be transparent about response counts and note any demographic overrepresentation. The raw data should be retained for at least the duration of the political process and in line with cantonal archiving obligations.

What the survey collects

• Respondent contact details (optional for anonymous surveys)
• Awareness and prior knowledge of the proposed initiative
• Opinion ratings on individual measures (1-5 scale)
• Prioritisation of measures from the respondent's perspective
• Open qualitative feedback and suggestions
• Demographic information: age group, municipality of residence, stakeholder category

What makes a consultation survey work

Effective consultation surveys are concise (under 15 minutes to complete), use plain language accessible to non-specialists, combine quantitative rating questions with open qualitative fields, and clearly explain what the initiative is about before asking for opinions. Providing a brief summary of the proposal at the start of the form significantly improves response quality.

Demographic questions, and what they are for

Demographic questions (age, municipality, stakeholder category) help authorities understand whose voices are represented in the results. However, in some contexts — particularly on politically sensitive topics — it may be preferable to make demographic fields optional or to anonymise responses entirely. Under nFADP, the data minimisation principle requires collecting only what is necessary for the stated purpose. Authorities should document their data processing in a register of processing activities.

This is not a formal Vernehmlassungsverfahren

This template is designed as a citizen-facing survey complement to formal consultations, not as a replacement for the structured written response format required in federal Vernehmlassungsverfahren. For formal procedures, respondents must submit written statements via the official Federal Chancellery portal (admin.ch). However, results from this survey can be summarised and submitted as a collective civil-society response.

How long to run it

Federal consultation periods are a minimum of three months under the VlG. Cantonal and municipal consultation periods vary but are typically four to eight weeks for medium-complexity proposals. Setting a clear start and end date — and communicating these prominently — improves response rates. The Schweizerform schedule feature allows you to automate opening and closing of the survey.

Consultation in a direct democracy

Switzerland's direct democracy model means that citizens have multiple channels to influence public policy: initiatives, referendums, and formal consultation procedures (Vernehmlassungsverfahren / procedure de consultation). At the federal level, the Consultation Procedure Act (VlG) requires the Confederation to consult cantons, political parties, associations, and the public before major legislative changes. At the cantonal and municipal level, equivalent procedures are governed by cantonal law.

Online public consultation surveys have become an increasingly important complement to formal written consultations. They lower the barrier to participation for ordinary citizens who may not respond to a formal written procedure but are willing to complete a short digital survey. This broadens the representativeness of input and helps authorities identify issues that formal stakeholders may overlook.

Running one