Why is it necessary to elect a replacement?
Mr Marc Hunziker is retiring from the Board of Trustees as an employee representative on 30 June 2026. This vacancy on the Board of Trustees needs filling as of 1 July 2026 (and for the remainder of the current term of office until 30 June 2029).
Who is eligible to vote?
As this is only a replacement election for an employer representative, only the employer representatives of the Administrative Boards of the companies affiliated to the Collective Foundation are eligible to vote.
Who will conduct the replacement election on behalf of the Board of Trustees?
The Board of Trustees has commissioned Swiss Life Ltd as manager to organise and conduct the replacement election.
Has the regulatory authority responsible for the Foundation been informed of the replacement election?
The Foundation’s regulatory authority, the BVG and foundation supervisory authority of the Canton of Zurich (BVS), is aware of the regulations in force for the election of employee and employer representatives to the Board of Trustees.
When exactly will the replacement election take place and how will the persons entitled to vote be informed about it?
At the end of March 2026, the members of the Administrative Boards of the affiliated companies will be informed in writing of the replacement election and of the candidate proposed by the incumbent Board of Trustees. The employer representatives of the Administrative Boards who are entitled to vote will be informed that they have until 30 April 2026 to register additional candidates.
If no further candidates are proposed, the candidate proposed by the Board of Trustees will be elected by acclamation. Otherwise, a secret, electronic ballot will take place.
An employer representative of the Administrative Board must register online in order to take part in the electronic ballot. Registered voters will receive their login data for the online voting system by e-mail. If the new member is not elected by acclamation, the (electronic) ballot will take place from 13 May to 10 June 2026, 12 noon, followed by a counting of votes.
What needs to be taken into account if additional candidates wish to stand for election to the Board of Trustees?
A set of election regulations governs elections to the Board of Trustees. One person per employee benefits unit may be nominated for the replacement election. This must be a person insured with the Collective Foundation who has an unlimited contract of employment with the employer affiliated with the Foundation under a non-terminated contract and whose employment relationship has not been terminated, as well as self-employed persons who are insured with the Foundation together with their employees (who work in Switzerland).
Employers with the role of employee representative on the employee benefits unit’s Administrative Board are not eligible for election. It is usually an advantage if the candidates have good knowledge of German (the language of correspondence and meetings is German).
The online form for registering additional candidates can be found on the website. In addition to providing personal details, candidates must briefly explain their motivation for applying. Candidates must also provide an up-to-date extract from the criminal records and debt collection register (issued within the past three months). The Foundation may request further information and documents in order to review the fit and proper status of candidates. Applications will be accepted until 30 April 2026.
What level of commitment is expected of a member of the Board of Trustees?
- Two ordinary meetings of the Board of Trustees per year, usually in Zurich
- Two further meetings of the Board of Trustees per year by video conference (as required)
- Resolutions by correspondence
- Two-day basic training (free of charge)
- One full-day Board of Trustees event per year
- Voluntary, half-day training (annual)
Is the Board of Trustees’ mandate remunerated?
Yes, time spent working on the Board of Trustees’ mandate is remunerated. Members of the Board of Trustees receive an annual salary statement for their tax declaration each year.
How many candidates can I vote for?
As only one new member (employer representative) is to be elected in this replacement election, only one vote may be cast. Voters exceeding this number will be instructed electronically to reduce their votes to the maximum possible number in order to vote.
Why do the employee benefits units have to register in order to take part in the election?
Should further candidates be put forward, the entire election ballot will take place electronically. We will also only provide the login data for the vote electronically, which is why an employer representative of the Administrative Board must register in advance in order to take part in the election. It is important to ensure that the login data for online voting is provided to registered employer representatives only.
Why has the Board of Trustees opted for e-voting?
The Board of Trustees has been very satisfied with the reliability and efficiency of the electronic vote that has been regularly organised and conducted by Swiss Life since 2009. It has therefore decided also to conduct the present replacement election by e-voting. Voting documents will be neither delivered nor accepted by post.
Do voters require special internet expertise?
The software solution in use is so user-friendly that even internet novices will have no trouble casting their vote online. All it takes is four steps – easy, quick, accurate and with explanations for each step.
How will voters be identified?
A multi-factor authentication process similar to the system for online banking will be used to identify voters and comply with the basic principles of electoral law. Voters must use a combination of a personal identification number (PIN) and a transaction number (TAN) known only to the voter in order sign into the voting system.
How will multiple voting be prevented?
Each person eligible to vote will have a personal identification number or PIN. After the voter has signed in using the PIN and TAN and voted, the vote will be automatically registered in the voters’ register. It will not be possible to cast a second vote.
Is it necessary to download software in order to participate in e-voting?
No external software is required. Votes are cast via an internet application. Furthermore, the type of operating system or browser used will make no difference to the voting process. All the voter needs is an internet-enabled device (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.).
Can I cast my vote in a different way if I miss the deadline?
No.
How will voters be anonymised?
Voters will be anonymised by the strict separation of voters’ register and ballot box. This will make it impossible to match ballots and voters, thereby ensuring anonymous voting in keeping with the valid basic principles of electoral law.
Does Swiss Life guarantee that none of my company’s contract data etc. will be passed on to external parties?
With the exception of your Swiss Life contract number – which is used for classification purposes only during the election – no company data will be transmitted.
What is the reason for collaborating with a private provider? Some municipalities also use e-voting for their elections.
Swiss Life has made enquiries with the appropriate providers, but their services are limited to the public sphere. The Polyas® voting system is the only software in the world that meets the requirements of the internationally recognised protection profile for online elections.
How is the personal data from the application form and the personal extracts from the criminal records and debt collection registers used, who has access to them and for how long are they kept?
The personal data collected in the candidacy form and extracts from the criminal records and debt collection registers are used to check that candidates meet the applicable election requirements. If a person’s candidacy is valid, certain data from the form is published on the election page (first name, last name, year of birth, place of residence, company (employee benefits unit), occupation and personal motivation). In order to hold the election, personal data such as first name, last name, year of birth and company (employee benefits unit) is forwarded to our external partner POLYAS for inclusion on the ballot paper.
Only the people responsible for holding the election within the Foundation management at Swiss Life have access to the extended candidate data and extracts from the criminal records and debt collection registers. They will be deleted on 31 December 2026 at the latest once the elections have been held. In addition, the provisions of the privacy policy apply, together with supplementary explanations and information and the contact details for further questions on data protection and data security at Swiss Life Ltd, which are available at: www.swisslife.ch/privacy-contract.
What are the consequences of a member of the Board of Trustees switching category from employer to employee and vice versa?
If the employment relationship of an elected member of the Board of Trustees changes in such a way as to render impossible his or her remaining on the Board in conformity with the valid election regulations of the category concerned, such person shall retire from the Board of Trustees and be replaced by a substitute. A change of category is not permissible.
POLYAS Schweiz GmbH, based in St Gallen, has been the SaaS provider for Swiss Life since 2009 for online elections to Boards of Trustees. POLYAS guarantees legally valid and secure voting via the internet. The basic structure and security concept is based on the internationally recognised Common Criteria Protection Profile of the BSI for online voting.