Reading through the little guide to the parties manifesto which came with my wife’s voting forms, I find that the UDC ticks all the boxes for me,

They are campaigning for lower taxes, lower health insurance premiums, protection of Swiss sovereignty and neutrality, and better security on the streets. Sounds like a winner to me.

The Socialists seem to be looking towards better human rights, more rights for woman, more cooperation with the European Union.

So as a tax paying male and going by the these simple 3 point guides of what the parties stand for, the UDC tick my boxes. However, as I’m not voting it doesn’t really matter.
Nick.

they tick none of my boxes, except maybe the lower taxes part, but they're not really sincere here either.

They campaign for less government spending (mostly in the social security sector) yet at the same time are the ones who support large susidies for the agricultural sectore the most fiercely (not really surprising as a former peasant/farmer-party).

the other issues are mostly just fear mongering IMHO. I don't see the streets as being unsafe, and I don't see how making/keeping switzerland more open hurts our sovereignty and neutrality.

Personally, I'll most likely be voting for the FDP (PRD) or perhaps even the young wing of them.

Yes, but keep in mind these are self-portraits. If the parties really did what they say it would be nearly irrelevant which one wins, because they're all that awesome.

Seriously, if you want some neutral information about the parties I can recommend the dossier of Vernunft Schweiz (only in German regrettably), or browse Wikipedia for the Swiss parties.

Edit: The lists of young parties, seniors and recently candidates from abroad are mostly marketing without good chances of scoring any seats. The reason they exist is that through list alliances the "mothership" lists could score an extra seat or two.

I've been to the election assistance instruction yesterday and canton Zurich has a mess of about 800 candidates and many lists with pre-printed double nominations, and many lists that obviously are marketing vehicles... Will be an interesting Sunday for me!

alternatively you could try that Smartvote thingy

ROFLMAO.

24 Lists in SG. Took me half an hour to complete - not counting the prior research. Yet, it's much more satisfying than simply putting one X against the one candidate of the least worst party, who probably won't win anyway if they're not the sitting MP.