Parties and Candidates

Details

Published: 29 January 2026

On this page:

• Candidate qualifications
• Key dates for nominating
• Nominating as an independent candidate
• Nominating as a party-endorsed candidate
• Additional nomination rules
• Forms and resources

Nominating for the House of Assembly

A step-by-step guide for prospective candidates in the 2026 State Election.

Overview

This page explains how to nominate as a candidate for the House of Assembly in the 2026 State Election. It outlines key dates, eligibility requirements, forms, and lodgement processes for both independent candidates and candidates endorsed by registered political parties. All requirements are set under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act). 

The Candidate Guide provides detailed instructions, examples, and legislative references to support your nomination.

Candidate qualifications

To qualify as a candidate, you must:

• be enrolled to vote in South Australia.
• not be required to immediately vacate your seat under the Constitution Act 1934 (for example, due to holding certain offices).
• not nominate for more than one election held on the same day.

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Key dates

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Ways to nominate

Candidates may nominate in one of 2 ways:

Independent candidate

You lodge your own nomination and must meet all individual requirements, including providing nominators.

Party-endorsed candidate

Your party’s registered officer lodges the nomination on your behalf.

Independent candidates

1. Eligibility

To nominate as an independent candidate, you must be supported by:

• At least 20 eligible electors enrolled in the district you are contesting.

2. Nomination deposit

A $1,000 deposit must accompany your nomination. Accepted payment methods:

• Banker’s cheque (personal cheques cannot be accepted).
• Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA)
  • A printed receipt showing successful lodgement must be provided for EFT payments.

The deposit must be received before nominations close.

3. What you need to lodge

Submit the following documents to the returning officer before nominations close: 

• RO 44 – Completed nomination form.
• RO 44A – List of at least 20 nominators, including signatures and enrolment details.
• $1,000 deposit (banker’s cheque or EFT receipt).

4. Lodgement

Lodge your completed documents and deposit with the returning officer for the district you are contesting.

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Party-endorsed candidates

1. Nomination process

• Complete the party-endorsed nomination form (RO 40A or RO 40B, depending on your party's process).
• Return it to your party’s registered officer.
• The registered officer lodges all endorsed nominations directly with ECSA.

2. Requirements for registered officers

Registered officers must:

• Lodge all nomination forms (RO 40A / RO 40B).
• Submit a $1,000 deposit per candidate (banker’s cheque or EFT).
• Lodge multiple nominations on a single nomination paper if submitted at least 48 hours before the hour of nomination.

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Additional nomination rules

Withdrawing your nomination

Candidates may withdraw their nomination by lodging written notice with the returning officer before the hour of nomination.

• If withdrawn, the nomination is revoked.
• The deposit is refunded.

Deposit refunds

Your $1,000 deposit will be refunded if:

• You are elected, or
• You receive more than 4% of first‑preference votes in your district.

Otherwise, the deposit is forfeited. If a candidate dies before polling day, the deposit is returned to their personal representative.

Declaration of nominations

At the hour of nomination, the returning officer will:

• Publicly produce all nomination papers received.
• Declare the names and addresses of all duly nominated candidates
  • If a candidate’s address is suppressed, only their district of residence is declared.

Candidate name rules

These rules ensure names on ballot papers are clear and not misleading for voters.

A nomination may be rejected if the candidate’s name is:

• Obscene
• Frivolous
• Assumed for an ulterior purpose.

If practicable, the candidate will be notified and may lodge a fresh nomination before the hour of nomination.

If a candidate dies

If a candidate dies after nominations are declared and before polling day, the election for that district is taken to have failed and will be re‑run.

Forms and resources

All required nomination forms and supporting guides are available below.

Forms and Guides

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Details

Published: 29 January 2026

On this page

• Definition of a third party
• Appointing an agent
• State campaign accounts
• Registering a third party
• Reporting and disclosure obligations
• Offences and penalties

Definition

Under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), a third party is defined as:

A person or entity other than:

• a member of parliament (House of Assembly or Legislative Council)
• a government or public sector agency
• a registered political party, candidate, or group
• a broadcaster or datacaster
• a publisher of a journal (including online publications).

who either:

• incurs or intends to incur more than $10,000 in political expenditure during the designated period in relation to an election; or
• incurred more than $10,000 in political expenditure during the designated period in relation to the last preceding general election.

Appointing an agent

A third party may appoint a person to act as their agent for electoral purposes, including managing political expenditure and disclosure obligations.

If no agent is appointed:

• If the third party is an individual, they are automatically considered their own agent.
• If the third party is an organisation or group, each member of its executive committee is treated as the agent. Each member is individually responsible for complying with the Act.

👉 See our agents page for details on how to appoint an agent, including eligibility and process requirements.

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State campaign accounts

Third parties must establish a state campaign account if they receive funds that must be deposited under the Act, such as electoral donations or money for political expenditure or reimbursement. Once registered, the third party must use this account exclusively for all electoral expenditure, donations, and loans. Bank account details must be provided to the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) using the state campaign account notification form.

👉 See state campaign accounts for details.

Registration of third parties

Third parties intending to spend more than $10,000 on political expenditure during a designated period for an election must be registered with the Electoral Commissioner. The register lists all third parties registered under Division 8A of the Act. The register is published on this website.

• Registration is mandatory before incurring political expenditure above the threshold.
• The register of third parties is maintained and published by the Electoral Commissioner.
• Applications must be submitted by the third party’s agent or authorised person, using the approved third party registration form (PDF, 2MB).
• Agents must notify any changes to registration details within 30 days.
• The Electoral Commissioner may vary or cancel registrations, but cancellation does not remove the obligation to lodge returns for active periods.

👉 View the current register of third parties.

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Reporting and disclosure obligations

Disclosure Timetable - 2026 State Election 

Donations to third parties

Under section 130ZHA of the Act, individuals who donate to third parties may have legal obligations to report those donations.

Reporting obligations

Any person who makes electoral donations totalling more than $1,000 to a third party within a financial year must submit a return to the Electoral Commissioner.

This requirement also applies to donations made indirectly, for example, through another person or organisation, if the donation is intended to benefit a specific third party. In such cases, the donation is treated as having been made directly to that third party.

Information required

The return must include:

Details of donations made:

• For donations over $1,000: amount, date, and other prescribed details.
• For smaller donations: total value and number of recipients

Details of donations received (used to fund or reimburse the donations made):

• For donations over $1,000: amount, date, and other prescribed details.
• For smaller donations: total value and number of donors.

Lodgement timeframes

Returns must be submitted at the following times:

Outside election periods:

• Donations made on or after 1 January: return due within 30 days of 30 June.
• Donations made on or after 1 July: return due within 30 days of 31 December.

During designated election period:

• Return due within 7 days after the end of the designated period.

Responsibilities of third-party agents

If a third party receives a donation that requires a return, the agent of the third party must notify the donor of their obligation to lodge a return under the Act.

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Third-party returns

Under section 130ZP of the Act, third parties must lodge regular disclosure returns with the Electoral Commissioner. These returns provide transparency around donations received and debts incurred for electoral purposes.

Information required in the return

Each return must include:

Electoral donations received:

• Total amount of all donations received during the reporting period.
• Number and total value of donations $1,000 or less.
• Full details of each donation over $1,000, including:
  • Amount
  • Date received 
  • Donor's name and address.

Debts incurred for electoral purposes:

• Total amount of outstanding debts at the end of the reporting period.
• Number and total value of debts $1,000 or less.
• Full details of each debt over $1,000, including:
  • Amount
  • Date incurred
  • Creditor's name and address

Reporting periods

Third-party returns must be lodged for the following periods:

Outside election periods: 

• 1 January to 30 June
• 1 July to 31 December

During designated election period: 

• Every 30-day period from the start of the designated period until 30 days after polling day.
• A final period covering any remaining days up to 30 days after polling day.

Deadlines for lodging returns

For periods outside the designated election period:

Outside the designated election period: Returns must be lodged within 30 days of the end of each period.

During the designated election period: Returns must be lodged within 5 days of the end of each period.

Additional notes

• Multiple donations from the same person in a financial year are treated as a single donation for reporting purposes.
• If a third party has already submitted an associated entity return for the same period, they are not required to submit a third-party return.

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Political expenditure returns

Third parties involved in political campaigning in South Australia must disclose political expenditure and related funding through formal returns to the Electoral Commissioner. These requirements apply both during election periods and annually.

Expenditure returns during the capped expenditure period

(section 130ZQ)

If a third party incurs more than $5,000 in political expenditure during the capped expenditure period for an election, they must lodge an expenditure return.

The return must include:

• Details of all political expenditure incurred.
• Whether any expenditure was made under an agreement or arrangement with a person covered by Division 6 (e.g. certain regulated entities), and details of that arrangement.

Deadline: The return must be lodged within 60 days after polling day.

Annual returns

(section 130ZR)

If a third party incurs more than $5,000 in political expenditure during a financial year, they must lodge an annual return.

The return must include:

• Details of all political expenditure incurred.
• Whether any expenditure was made under an agreement or arrangement with a person covered by Division 6 (e.g. certain regulated entities), and details of that arrangement.

Note: This return does not need to include expenditure already reported under section 130ZQ.

Deadline: The return must be lodged within 12 weeks after the end of the financial year.

Annual returns for amounts received for political expenditure

(section 130ZS)

If a third party is required to lodge a return under section 130ZQ or 130ZR, and they received any amount over $1,000 used to fund or reimburse political expenditure, they must also lodge a return of amounts received.

The return must include:

• Value and date of each amount received.
• Name and address of the person who provided the amount.

Note: Multiple amounts from the same person during the year are treated as a single amount.

Deadline: The return must be lodged within 12 weeks after the end of the financial year.

Audit certificates

An audit certificate must accompany each return. During election periods, only 2 bulk certificates are required:

• One lodged 7 days before polling day
• One lodged on the final return due date.

You may apply for a waiver if compliance costs are unreasonable.

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Offences and penalties

Third parties must comply with all obligations under Part 13A of the Act. Failure to do so may result in offences and legal penalties, as outlined in section 130ZZE and Regulation 40 of the Electoral Regulations 2024.

Failure to lodge required returns

Not submitting half-yearly, election period, or audit cerficates within the required timeframe is an offence.

Providing false or misleading information

Knowingly submitting incorrect or incomplete information in a return is a serious offence.

Failure to appoint an agent

If no agent is appointed, a third party (or its executive committee members) is deemed responsible. Non-compliance may result in penalties.

Failure to maintain a state campaign account

If a third party receives funds that must be deposited into a campaign account and fails to do so, this may breach the Act.

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Details

Published: 29 January 2026

On this page

• Overview
• Eligibility
• Payment structure
• Lodging a certificate
• Early payment
• Deductions and repayments
• By-elections 

Overview

The Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024 introduces advance payments for political participants who lodge a section 130PF certificate. These reforms apply from 1 July 2025 and are part of broader changes to South Australia's electoral funding framework. 

Related information

Resources that support this page include:

👉 Advance funding - House of Assembly elections (web page)

👉 Advance funding - Legislative Council elections (web page)

👉 Advance Funding Guide (PDF, 388KB)

Eligibility

Advance public funding is available to:

• Candidates
• Groups
• Registered political parties
• Independent members.

Important: An agent must apply before polling day. Funds are deposited into the state campaign account, not to individuals.

Payment structure

Advance funding is paid in 2 instalments:

• Payment A: 60% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting).
• Payment B: 20% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting).

How it’s calculated

Funding is based on estimated entitlement under section 130P, using either:

• Previous state election results (notional amount), or
• A set amount fixed by legislation.

Different formulas apply for House of Assembly (HA) and Legislative Council (LC) elections.

Details

Published: 29 January 2026

Policy development funding provides reimbursement to eligible registered political parties for policy development expenditure incurred during a calendar year.

For full instructions and legislative references, see the Policy Development Funding Guide.

Eligibility

A party is eligible for annual payments if:

• It is an entitled registered political party for at least 12 months during the full calendar year of expenditure, and
• It is not receiving administrative funding.

Note: A registered party is considered eligible if it has been registered for 12 months or more as of 1 January and remains registered for the entire calendar year.

Funding amount

Eligible parties may receive up to $20,000 per year (indexed from 2026), based on actual policy development expenditure.

Important: This funding must not be paid into a state campaign account and cannot be used for political or electoral expenditure.

What qualifies as policy development expenditure

Expenditure may include activities such as:

• Hosting conferences, seminars, meetings, or similar functions where party policies are discussed.
• Providing information about party policies to members and supporters.
• Conducting research for the purpose of developing party policies.

How to claim

Eligible parties can submit a claim to the Electoral Commission of South Australia within 30 days after the end of the calendar year to which the expenditure relates.