An electronic motor vehicle locking system has a receiver which is mounted in the motor vehicle, which is supplied by a battery power supply, and which is remote-controlled by a handheld transmitter supplying coded control signals. A clocked operating switch turns the power supply to the receiver on and off. The receiver may be remotely controlled with infrared light control signals or with radio control signals. A method for the clocked actuation of the operating switch includes operating the operating switch during a first waiting period with given intervals between turn-ons of the power supply; and operating the operating switch in a clocked fashion during a second waiting period after the first waiting period with intervals between the turn-ons of the power supply which are longer than the given intervals of the first waiting period, if the receiver received no control signals during the first waiting period. An apparatus for the clocked actuation of the operating switch includes a timer, as for instance a microprocessor with a clock pulse generator.