In brief:
- Over 1.26 million South Australians are expected to vote in the 2022 State Election
- Plan ahead for voting.
A record number of voters will take to the polls in the 2022 State Election, according to the Electoral Commission of SA (ECSA).
1,266,719 South Australians have enrolled to vote, representing a 5.4% increase in the number of enrolled voters since the 2018 state election when 1,201,775 individuals were registered on the electoral roll.
Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry was extremely pleased with the public’s response to enrol to vote.
“We thank the South Australian public for enrolling or updating their enrolment details this state election,” Mr Sherry said.
“In February alone, more than 10,000 new South Australian voters joined the electoral roll, which is a fantastic result.”
“Since January this year, over 14,000 young people between the ages of 18-24 years have enrolled to vote.”
And over 80,000 South Australians have updated their enrolment details.
This is a fantastic result, and we thank South Australians for making sure that their voice is heard at the 2022 State Election.
“As this is the first South Australian State Election since COVID began, there are several expanded voting options, including early voting centres and postal voting, which will allow eligible electors to vote safely and effectively.
“Voters should also feel safe and confident to attend a polling booth on election day with a raft of COVID safety measures in place."
More than 1.2 million Easy Vote cards are being printed this week and will be sent to voters ahead of the election. The EasyVote Card helps voters have their details quickly marked off the electoral roll and reduces the time it takes to cast their vote on polling day.
Voters are also being encouraged to update their mySA GOV app to access the new State Election card, allowing voters access to a unique QR check-in code to save time at the polling booth on election day.
Plan ahead for voting
Early voting centres across the state open next Monday, March 7 and will operate until Friday, March 18, the day before the 2022 State Election, to allow eligible voters the opportunity to vote safely and early.
“Early voting centres will operate during the 2 weeks prior to election day for eligible voters,” Mr Sherry said.
“We encourage eligible voters to plan ahead and choose an appropriate time in that 12-day period to vote in-person at one of the 37 early voting centres across the state.
"We’ve significantly increased the number of early voting centres, which gives eligible voters greater access and time to safely cast their vote between Monday, March 7 and Friday, March 18.”
Eligible voters who wish to apply for a postal vote have until 5 pm on Thursday, March 17, to do so.
South Australians who are COVID-positive or a close contact required to isolate or quarantine can apply to vote by post.
Between Thursday, March 17 and election day on Saturday, March 19, electors who are COVID positive or a close contact required to isolate or quarantine or have COVID symptoms will be eligible to pick up a voting pack at a selected PCR or RAT collection sites across the state.