Parties and Candidates

Definition of a third party

Under Part 13A, section 130A of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), a third party is any individual or organisation (other than those specifically excluded) that either:

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

A third party must not incur more than $10,000 in political expenditure during the designated period unless registered under Division 8A of the Act.

Entities excluded from registration

The following are excluded from registration requirements:

• Members of Parliament (House of Assembly or Legislative Council)
• Government or public sector agencies
• Registered political parties, candidates, or groups
• Broadcasters or datacasters
• Publishers of journals (including online publications).

👉 Learn more about third parties, including registration information, on our dedicated third parties page.

Third-party registrations - 2026 State Election

• Final date to register: 6 March 2026 (at least 45 days before the end of the register period).

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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On this page:

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

Nominating for the Legislative Council

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 Legislative Council in the 2026 State Election. It outlines eligibility requirements, required forms, nomination deposits, and lodgement processes for independent ungrouped candidates, independent grouped 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 and should be read alongside this information.

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 3 ways:

Independent ungrouped (not endorsed by a political party)

You lodge your own nomination and appear individually on the ballot paper.

Independent grouped (not endorsed by a political party)

You lodge your nomination as part of a group that appears together on the ballot paper.

Party-endorsed candidate

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

Independent ungrouped candidates

1. Eligibility

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

• At least 250 eligible electors enrolled for the Legislative Council.

2. Nomination deposit

A $3,000 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 55 – Independent ungrouped candidate nomination form.
• RO 56 – List of at least 250 nominators, including signatures and enrolment details.
• $3,000 deposit (banker’s cheque or EFT receipt).

4. Lodgement

Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a time to lodge a nomination. It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to verify nominators.

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Independent grouped candidates

1. Eligibility

To nominate as an independent grouped candidate, each candidate in the group must be supported by:

• At least 250 eligible electors enrolled for the Legislative Council.

2. Nomination deposit

A $3,000 deposit per candidate must accompany the nomination. Accepted payment methods:

• Banker’s cheque (personal cheques cannot be accepted).
• Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to 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 54 - 'Independent grouped candidate nomination' form (one per candidate).
• RO 54A - 'Application for a group on the ballot paper - independent group'.
• RO 56 – List of at least 250 nominators, including signatures and enrolment details, for every candidate.
• $3,000 deposit per candidate

4. Lodgement

Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a lodgement appointment. It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to verify nominators.

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Party-endorsed candidates

1. Nomination process

• Complete the 'Endorsed party candidate nomination' form (RO 50).
• Return it to your party’s registered officer along with an 'Application for a group on the ballot paper' (either RO 50B or RO 50C).
• The registered officer lodges all endorsed nominations directly with ECSA.

2. Requirements for registered officers

Registered officers must:

• Lodge all the party's 'Endorsed party candidate nomination' forms (RO 50).
• Lodge the 'Endorsement of the nominations by a party' (RO 50A).
• Submit an 'Application for a group on the ballot paper' (either RO 50B or RO 50C).
• Submit a $3,000 deposit per candidate in banker's cheque or EFT.

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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 $3,000 deposit will be refunded if:

• You are elected, or
• You receive more than 2% of first‑preference votes.

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 2 or more Legislative Council candidates die after nominations are declared and before polling day, the election for the Legislative Council is taken to have wholly failed and will need to be re‑run in accordance with the Act.

Forms and resources

All required nomination forms and supporting guides are available below.

Forms and Guides

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