Swiss e-voting pilot can't count 2,048 ballots after USB keys fail to decrypt them

Basel-Stadt's e‑voting pilot failed to decrypt 2,048 votes cast in March 8 referendums after three USB hardware keys with correct codes did not work; officials commissioned an external analysis, suspended the pilot until the end of December, and initiated criminal proceedings. The affected votes were less than 4% of the canton’s total and did not change outcomes, and Swiss federal authorities reported other cantonal and Swiss Post e‑voting systems were not affected.