Electoral Commission probes Adelaide Council voting scam claims

Authorities are investigating a scam operating in student apartments in the city, potentially affecting who is elected to Adelaide City Council

The Adelaide Town Hall on King William Street. Picture: Jack Fenby

An alleged voter scam in the Adelaide City Council election – which could affect hundreds of ballot papers – is being investigated by the Electoral Commission of SA.

The Advertiser understands four apartment buildings home to a large number of international students have been targeted by Chinese people collecting ballot papers that had not yet been filled out.

It is understood they have targeted Vision, Realm, Kodo and Penny Place apartments and are in support of a Central Ward candidate.

A photo taken last week, obtained by The Advertiser, shows two men outside the Vision apartment building on Morphett St with a handful of opened ballot envelopes.

Two people with a wad of opened ballot papers outside the Vision Apartment building. Picture: Supplied

The ballot papers contained voting slips for the Central Ward’s 14 candidates and five lord mayoral candidates.

The candidate in question told The Advertiser: “I would not do this and I would not ask anyone to do that”.

“I’m a public servant and I know what integrity is,” they said.

“There have been plenty of dirty tricks during this campaign. I see campaigning as a swimming competition, if some people decide to pee in the pool that’s their decision.”

Sources said a We Chat message also encouraged students to bring their voter packs to the apartment foyers where a person in support of the candidate would collect them.

If it is a scam, it could affect the outcome of who wins the four seats in the ward to be elected onto Adelaide City Council.

“ECSA is currently investigating the matter and does not comment on the progress of ongoing investigations,” an ECSA spokeswoman said.

“ECSA has processes in place to ensure the integrity of the election.”

In the 2018 election, 2304 ballot papers were received and three candidates elected to the ward after preferences were distributed to reach a quota of 577 votes each.

Only 1906 eligible residents have voted so far this local government election in the ward, meaning the quota to be elected could be reduced dramatically.

ECSA is also investigating an election scam in the West Torrens Council area after an organised mass enrolment of more than 300 voters was reported.

The Local Government supplementary roll is open to rorting, especially by groups newly arrived in Adelaide.

Unlike other rolls, there is no requirement to be an Australian citizen, but the applicant must be a resident at their current address for at least one month.

Voting rights are also given to sole owners/occupiers of rateable property, business people and landlords.

In the 2018 election, there were 78 complaints made to ECSA overall about bribery/fraud, all except two were allegations of bribery. In 12 cases warnings were issued.