Drive-thru polling considered for Covid safety for state election in SA on March 19

Drive-thru polling booths are being considered to address Covid safety on state election day. Would you use them? Vote in our poll.

Covid-positive voters – and those in isolation – would use a drive-thru polling booth on state election day, under a plan being considered by the government.

A government spokesman said converting Victoria Park into a drive-thru polling booth for the election on March 19 was worthy of consideration.

“While Health and the Electoral Commissioner are still in discussions on how South Australians would be able to vote if they are Covid positive or in isolation, the idea of a drive-through voting facility seems worthy of consideration,” he said.

“Any site investigations would need to consider the state government’s testing capacity requirements.”

Victoria Park could be used as a drive-thru polling booth location on election day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Drive-thru polling booths have also been backed by Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas.

“Drive-thru polling booths are one idea, but we would need more than just one in the middle of the city, we would need them throughout the state, to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to exercise their right for vote.

“We can ensure everyone in isolation can vote if Steven Marshall agrees to bring back parliament this Tuesday, so we can vote on a piece of legislation which enjoys bipartisan support.”

UniSA Professor Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist, said drive-thru polling booths were a sensible idea.

He said it was a safe way to allow those in isolation or those who are Covid-positive to cast their vote.

“It would minimise the exposure and you can wear a mask in your car to protect the people on the other end accepting the (voting slips) and that all makes it very safe,” he said.

“I would also run it at various locations to make it easier for people and waiting times wouldn’t be as long.

“The other alternative, of course, is electronic voting.”

In a statement released on Thursday, the state’s Electoral Commission said an announcement on Covid-safe polling was still weeks away.

“There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the safety of the upcoming state

election,” it said.

“We are working with SA Health to give the greatest possible access to safe voting solutions for the people of South Australia.

“We do not have any announcement of these plans to make today. However, when these are

finalised in the coming weeks.”

SA Health was contacted for comment.