SA Election 2022: Everything you need to know about the election
Voting packs for Covid infectious people or close contacts are available from today. Find out what you need to do to get your pack plus other FAQs about voting in the state election.
State Election
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Ready to exercise your constitutional right to vote but do not know how? You’re not the only one.
With the South Australian state election looming, here’s a guide on what you need to know ahead of voting.
From Thursday, March 17, Covid impacted individuals who are infected or a close contacts can pick up a voting pack at PCR or RAT collection sites across the state.
Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry said voter packs would be available to collect from 22 RAT and PCR sites on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. See below for more details.
When is the upcoming South Australian election?
The state election is on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Enrol or update your details, including changes in address, by 5pm on Friday, February 25, 2022.
How do I vote if I have Covid-19 or I’m a close contact?
If you have Covid, are experiencing Covid symptoms or are a close contact of someone with Covid, and are required to isolate or quarantine after 5pm on Wednesday, March 16, you are eligible for a voting pack.
The Electoral Commission of South Australia will set up voting pack collection points at 22 RAT and PCR testing sites, which will operate on Thursday March 17, Friday March 18 and Saturday March 19.
All you need to do is register at the ECSA website.
Once you have registered, a text message will be sent to you with your electoral district, your roll number and instructions for collecting your voting pack.
You will then be allowed to leave home to collect your voting pack but must go home to complete your forms.
You must complete your vote forms before 6pm on Saturday March 19 and return them via the reply-paid envelope to arrive at the ECSA by 5pm Friday, March 25.
Go here for all the details.
How often does South Australia have state elections?
South Australia has set four-year terms, however a government may face electors earlier if defeated on a vote of confidence in the parliament.
Is it compulsory to vote in the SA election?
It is compulsory to vote in state and federal elections in Australia if you are an Australian citizen, over the age of 18 and have lived at your SA address for at least a month. Failing to do so can result in a fine.
What happens if you fail to vote?
Voting is compulsory and you may be fined for not voting. If you did not vote at an election you must contact the Electoral Commission SA and provide them with a valid and sufficient reason for your failure to vote. If you fail to respond or do not have a sufficient reason for not voting, you will receive a fine of $70 to $125.
How do I vote in person on SA election day?
You can attend one of more than 700 polling booths, which will be open from 8am to 6pm on election day, Saturday, March 19.
Full list of polling booth locations in SA for election day
If you’re looking for the closest or most convenient polling booth for you, search for your nearest polling booths here.Note: this list is subject to change.
How will Covid-19 be managed at the polling booths?
Social distancing measures will be in place and a hygiene officers will be stationed at every sit to ensure each venue is regularly sanitised. All polling officials will be fully vaccinated and every elector and polling officer must wear a mask. Pencils will all be single-use only. Less foot traffic is expected at polling booths due to an expected surge in postal and pre-poll votes.
How do you fill in the ballots?
You will be given two ballot papers: one green paper and one white paper. The green paper is your ballot for the House of Assembly and the white paper is your ballot for the Legislative Council. You must fill out both papers correctly.
To fill in the green paper, you will need to number every square in order of your preference.
Write the number one in the square next to the candidate who is your first preference. Then write the number two next to your second preference and so on until you have filled in every square on the ballot.
There are two ways to fill in the white paper. Either by filling out the form above the red line or below the line – but not both.
If you are filling out the white paper above the red line you write the number one in the square next to the party or group of candidates which are your first preference. Then you write number two next to your second preference and so on. You do not need to number every square. Leave the rest of the ballot paper blank and do not mark below the red line.
If you choose to fill the ballot below the red line, you must write the number one in the square next to the candidate who is your first preference. Continue to write the numbers two, three, four, five and so on in the squares next to the other candidates that you wish to vote for, until you have chosen a minimum of 12 candidates.
If you make a mistake while filling out the ballot papers, you may put a line through the mistake and write the correct information beside it. If in doubt, you can ask an electoral officer for a replacement ballot paper.
Can I vote early in the SA election?
If you are unable to attend a polling booth on Saturday, March 19 between 8am and 6pm, you may be eligible to vote early.
Early voting centres are available across SA, interstate capital cities and at some overseas consulates and embassies from Monday, March 7 until Friday, March 18, 2022.
You are eligible to vote early if on polling day (Saturday, March 19, 2022) you:
■ Are more than eight kilometres from a polling booth
■ Are travelling
■ Are ill, infirm or disabled which prevents you from attending a polling booth
■ Are caring for someone who is ill, infirm or disabled which prevents you from attending a polling booth
■ Are due to give birth shortly
■ Have religious beliefs preventing you from attending a polling booth
■ Are working and unable to leave your workplace to vote
■ Are a resident of a declared institution being a hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, home for the aged, hostel for the aged or infirm, prison or other place of confinement have your address suppressed on the electoral roll (a silent elector)
For locations of early voting centres visit here.
Can I do a postal vote?
If you are unable to attend a voting booth on election day, you may be eligible to apply for a postal vote.
You are eligible to post for vote if, on polling day, you:
■ Are more than 8 km from a polling booth
■ Are travelling
■ Are ill, infirm or disabled – preventing you from attending a polling booth
■ Are due to give birth shortly
■ Are caring for someone who is ill, infirm or disabled – preventing you from attending a polling booth
■ Have religious beliefs preventing you from attending a polling booth
■ Are working and unable to leave your workplace to vote
■ Are a resident of an institution or declared institution being a hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, home for the aged, hostel for the aged or infirm, prison or other place of confinement
■ Are subject to a direction under theEmergency Management Act 2004 requiring you to quarantine or isolate during the hours of polling.
If you are a registered declaration voter then you are automatically sent ballot papers and are not required to lodge a new application.
For those who need to register for a postal vote, you must complete, sign and submit a postal vote application.
To apply, you can download a postal vote application form from the Electoral Commission SA website here, complete and print the application, sign the application as digital signatures are not accepted, scan and email the application to ecsa.postalapps@sa.gov.au or mail it to the Electoral Commission SA.
The last day the Electoral Commission SA can receive a postal vote application is Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 5pm.
If you have successfully registered as a postal voter, ballot materials will be mailed to you. The first postal vote mail-out will occur on Monday, March 7, 2022.
You must complete the ballot papers before 6pm on election day (Saturday, March 19, 2022). Post your ballot papers, using the envelope provided, to ensure they are received no later than seven days after election day.
You may also hand deliver the envelope to the Electoral Commission SA office at Level 6, 60 Light Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000 or an electoral officer at any polling booth during opening hours.
How do I vote if I’m an aged care resident?
Residents in aged care facilities will be able to vote by post. Each aged care facility will nominate a co-ordinator to assist. Facilities will be able to submit a bulk postal voting application form for their residents. The commission will deliver and collect ballot packs to aged care homes. Residents will have access to instructional information and a video to help them fill out their voting form correctly
How do I vote if I’m in a remote or Aboriginal community?
Local community members will be engaged as “Aboriginal Information Officers” to assist with enrolment and voting. The commission will work with local media and the community to ensure the region knows when the commission will be in the area. “Everyone in the region will have enough notice to attend a polling place,” Electoral Commissioner for SA Mick Sherry says. Remote polling will start in the APY Lands on March 7.
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