An actuating device (1), generating an electrical switching signal, comprising a housing (2) and a cover (4) which is held in a groove (8) worked into the housing, and a switching contact (6) attached in the interior (21) of the housing (2), the switching contact (6) is moved from an initial position (a) to a switching position (b) by closure of the cover (4) either directly or by intermediate elements (19) attached to the cover (4), a reliable and positionally accurate closure of the cover (4) in order to generate a switching contact, even if the cover (4) has an off-center actuation force applied to it is achieved because at least one abutment (11) is attached facing the cover (4) on the base (23) of the housing, and has a support surface (17) corresponding to the movement of the cover (4) mounted in the groove (8), and at least one bearing element (12) is attached to the cover (4) which, when the cover (4) is in its assembled status, makes contact with the support surface (17) of the abutment (11) and is thus supported when the cover (4) is actuated.