Public Consultation Survey
Collect structured citizen feedback on municipal or cantonal initiatives with this Swiss public consultation survey template.
About this template
The Public Consultation Survey template enables Swiss municipalities, cantons, and public agencies to gather structured citizen input on proposed legislation, urban planning projects, infrastructure changes, or social initiatives. Participation in public consultations is a democratic right enshrined in the Swiss Federal Constitution Art. 33, and this form makes it easy to collect, analyse, and document that participation transparently.
This survey captures awareness of the initiative, opinion ratings on specific measures, open qualitative feedback, and a demographic profile of respondents — giving decision-makers a comprehensive picture of public sentiment.
Data protection under nFADP
Personal data collected through this survey is processed in accordance with the Swiss new Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP / nDSG), in force since September 2023. Responses may be anonymised for reporting. Participants have the right to access, correct, and request deletion of their personal data.
What this 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
How to use this template
Use this template
Click 'Use template' to create a copy in your dashboard.
Customise the initiative details
Replace the placeholder initiative name and description with your specific project or legislative proposal.
Adjust measure ratings
Edit the single-choice and rating questions to match the specific measures under consultation.
Set a consultation period
Use the Schedule settings to open and automatically close the survey on the defined consultation dates.
Export and report
Download responses as CSV or PDF to present aggregated results to the decision-making body.
Public consultations in Switzerland: a guide for authorities
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.
What makes a good public consultation survey?
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.
How should demographic data be handled?
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.
Can this form be used for 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 should a consultation period last?
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.
How are results reported to decision-makers?
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.