Voting
- Details
- Category: Voting
To assist you to prepare for your day, the following page can be printed
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My state election summary voting plan for [ insert date ]
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To prepare my state election voting plan, I will need to consider
My plan to vote has been completed by [ Me ] [ Family Member ] [ Carer ] [ Friend ]
My state-election-voting-day is [ insert date ] (between 14 March and 21 March)
My electoral district → Check my district (interactive map)
My polling places → Check where I am going to vote
Inclusive polling locations
Carrington Centre
262 Carrington St, Adelaide
Elizabeth Civic Centre
10 Playford Blvd, Elizabeth
Morialta Uniting Church
26 Chapel St, Magill
Who I am going to vote for
I can learn about candidates by reading the newspaper, watching trusted news sources on TV or looking at the candidate's website. How to Vote cards can be accepted at the polling location, however you are under no obligation to accept them.
Who is my support person
I can choose to have support from someone I trust when I vote. This can be the person who helped me fill in this form or someone else.
My voting support person is [ insert name ]
What happens when I get to the polling location
If I need a polling official to come out to me in my car for me to cast my vote, this can be arranged on my arrival.
When I vote, my name is marked off the roll electronically. This confirms that I have voted. If I received my easy vote card in the mail, this will be helpful to show at this stage as it contains a unique QR code with my details.
I will be asked 3 questions by a polling official. I will need to answer these before I can receive my ballot papers to vote:
- What is your full name?
- What is your address?
- Have you voted before in this election?
- *you may be asked other questions to assist polling officials
To help answer these questions I can write my answers down in a safe place and bring it with me. This information is private and I decide who I share this with.
If I would like to also vote in the South Australian First Nations Vote to Parliament, I need to make the polling official aware when I arrive. I will be given an extra ballot paper to cast my vote in this election.
Other ways I can vote
If I can’t get to a polling location, I might be eligible to apply for a postal vote, or I will use Telephone Assisted Voting.
If I am in hospital, I can still vote.
Phone numbers I can call
- Phone: 1300 655 232 within South Australia
- Phone: (08) 7424 7400 from interstate
- Phone: +61 8 7424 7400 from overseas
Monday-Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
For more information about the election, I can look at the official information on the Electoral Commission’s website.
- Details
- Category: Voting
State elections and by-elections
Early voting
Under new legislation, every elector can vote early without eligibility requirements. For the week before polling day, early voting centres will be open across many districts, giving voters more choice, reducing congestion, and creating a smoother, more convenient voting experience.
Early Voting for the 2026 State Election will be open on Saturday 14 March, then reopen Monday 16 March to Friday 20 March, ie excluding Sunday 15 March. Early Voting Centres will be open from 8:00am to 6:00pm except for Thursday 19 March, which opens from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Ordinary voting
You’ll find voting centres across South Australia, interstate, and even at select overseas locations to cast your vote in person. It’s all about making voting easier, wherever you are. Attend a voting centre from 14 March until 20 March, excluding Sunday 15 March, from 8am til 6pm. Check the interactive map for locations and times as some may open at “Thursday late-night shopping” times.
Polling day voting
Polling booths are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can vote at any polling booth within the state; however, if you vote outside your own electoral district, you may experience delays as you will need to cast a declaration vote.
Postal voting
→ Detailed information coming soon!
Telephone Assisted Voting (TAV)
Electors that are sight impaired or otherwise cannot vote without assistance because of motor impairment are eligible to access telephone assisted voting. Telephone assisted voting will be available from Saturday 14 March to Saturday 21 March 2026, excluding Sunday 15 March.
Voting by phone is a two-part process. When you call ECSA, you will have your identity and eligibility confirmed and receive a unique ID number. To maintain the anonymity of your vote, your call will then be transferred to a voting assistant, and they will take your vote with another person listening in to ensure your vote is being recorded accurately.
Voting in a hospital or nursing home (declared)
Residents of nursing homes, those in hospital or other institutions, such as prisons, can vote at state elections and by-elections with a mobile voting team. We send trained electoral teams to support the voting process. Locations, dates and times are available on the website closer to the election. Patients and residents of these institutions may also apply for a postal vote. These are known as "Declared institutions".
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- Category: Voting
To make sure every eligible voter has the chance to participate in state elections and by-elections, we provide dedicated voting services for people living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions, including correctional facilities. These locations are known as Declared Institutions.
In the lead-up to an election, trained and vetted Electoral Visitors are sent to these institutions to assist residents with casting their vote in person. This service usually runs from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, during the week before polling day. In some cases, it may continue until 6 pm on polling day itself.
Details about when and where Electoral Visitors will be available are published on our website closer to each election.
Residents who prefer to vote by mail can also apply for a postal vote.
Please note: this service is designed specifically for patients and residents of these institutions. It is not available to staff or visitors.
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- Category: Voting
The Electoral Commission takes its role in the management of the democratic process seriously, and that elections are met fairly, honestly and within the law. This also means following up those people who didn't vote. We refer to this as the "non-voters" process.
It is important to know about upcoming elections in your area, as not knowing about an election is not a valid reason for failing to vote.
The best way to be informed about upcoming elections is to ensure to keep your details up to date. Providing a mobile number or email address will enable reminders about upcoming elections to be sent to you.
Below is an overview of our non-voters process
Non-voter process
If it appears you did not vote, you will receive the following 3 notices in accordance with section 85 of the Electoral Act 1985 and the Expiation of Offences Act 1996. The final stage is to refer the matter to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit.
Note: You can provide a valid and sufficient reason at any time and you will not proceed to the next stage of the process.
Apparent failure to vote notice (First notice)
This notice is sent within 90 days following the election. It gives you the opportunity to explain why you didn't vote, OR if in fact, you did vote. This notice (and all subsequent notices) will be sent to address on the electoral roll, at the Close of Rolls for the election
It is an offence not to respond to this notice.
If you receive an apparent failure to vote notice, follow the instructions on the letter i.e. complete all relevant sections, have it witnessed (it can be witnessed by anyone e.g. a family member, a friend, a colleague, a neighbour.) and return to us in the supplied reply-paid envelope or alternatively scan to PDF and email to
If your reason is accepted there is no further action.
Your response must be received by ECSA on or before the date indicated on the notice.
Important Note: your reason/s for not voting cannot be accepted / rejected over the phone. You must return the notice, via the methods mentioned above
Expiation notice $112 (Second notice)
You will receive an expiation notice if you do not respond to the apparent failure to vote notice, OR if you don't provide a valid and sufficient reason for not voting.
The expiation notice is issued under the Expiation of Offences Act.
The expiation amount is a $10 expiation fee for the offence and a $102 victims of crime levy.
Your options in dealing with the expiation notice are set out in the Expiation of Offences Act and are included on the reverse side of the expiation notice.
They are:
- Pay the fine
- Enter into a payment arrangement
- Elect to be prosecuted (which means having the matter dealt with by a court)
- Apply for a review of the expiation notice
You can provide a valid and sufficient reason at any time and you will not proceed to the next stage of the process.
Expiation reminder notice $185 (Third notice)
A reminder notice is issued if you fail to respond to the previous 2 notices. You will be required to pay the original fine plus a fee of $73.
Your options in dealing with the reminder notice are set out in the Expiation of Offences Act and are included on the reverse side of the notice.
They are:
- Pay the fine
- Enter into a payment arrangement
- Elect to be prosecuted (which means having the matter dealt with by a court)
- Apply for a review of the expiation notice
You can provide a valid and sufficient reason at any time and you will not proceed to the next stage of the process.
Note: All fines and fees are subject to change. These fines incorporate a victims of crime levy and other fees as per the Expiation of Offences Act.
Notice of order of enforcement
After 3 notices have been issued, the Electoral Commission SA refers the matter to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit, if you:
- fail to pay the fine, or
- do not provide a valid reason for not voting.
The Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit issues a notice of order of enforcement, which carries significant financial penalties in addition to the current penalties.
How to pay your fine
There are a few ways you can pay your fine prior to enforcement, these include:
- BPay
- credit card
- over the phone
- in person
- apply for a payment arrangement with the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit
You will need your expiation notice as it contains an identification number specific to you.
If you have misplaced your expiation notice, or would like to discuss your notice, please contact the Electoral Commission SA.
- Phone 1300 655 232 within SA only
- Phone 08 7424 7400 from interstate
- Phone +61 8 7424 7400 from overseas
- Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Address: Level 6, 60 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000 (Find us on the map using this link)
Postal: Electoral Commission SA, GPO Box 2072, Adelaide SA 5001 (No stamp required)
Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit
Once your fine is enforced (overdue) you must contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit as the Electoral Commission SA can no longer accept payments.
How to pay your overdue fine
The Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit has flexible options to pay your fine.
Overdue fines can be paid:
- online
- via telephone
- in person at any Australia Post office or Service SA Customer Service Centre.
You can also apply for a payment arrangement to spread your payment over a longer period.
Where a matter is not dealt with, the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit will apply escalating enforcement measures to recover the amount owed. These enforcements may include:
- suspension of your driver's license
- deductions directly from your salary or bank account
- clamping and impounding vehicles
- seizing and selling assets
Contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit on 1800 659 538 or visit Fines SA.
- Details
- Category: Voting
How-to-vote cards (HTV) are prepared by a party, group or independent candidate.
They indicate how they want you to record your preferences when voting.
It is up to you whether you follow a HTV card or mark your ballot papers according to your own choices.
There are 2 types of HTV cards:
- A HTV card lodged with the Electoral Commission of South Australia for display in polling booths and early voting centres.
- A HTV card lodged with the Electoral Commission of South Australia by a person who intends to distribute the card during the election period.
Political party and candidate workers
Political party and candidate workers may be outside polling places with HTV cards showing you how they would like you to vote for their candidate.
You do not have to take these if you don't want to.
A person must not distribute a HTV card during the election period unless it is substantially the same as a card lodged for display in polling booths or lodged with Electoral Commission of South Australia.