The invention relates to an electrical switching element (1), in particular a relay (3) or switch (5), comprising a coil arrangement (9), an armature (21) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (25) and drivable by the coil arrangement (9), and a contact arrangement (16) comprising at least one switchable contact spring (39). For transmitting a pivoting movement of the armature (21), the electrical switching elements (1) in the prior art use a coupling element (33), which has to be forcibly guided in the electrical switching element (1) and increases the tolerances occurring in the electrical switching element (1). The electrical switching element (1) according to the invention improves the prior art solutions in that the at least one contact spring (39) is directly connected to the armature (21) so as to transmit movement, in such a way that the coupling element (33) can be omitted and the tolerances which occur can be reduced.