Voting
- Details
Voting in South Australian elections is compulsory. If it appears you did not vote, the Electoral Commission SA (ECSA) is required by law to contact you.
At any stage you can provide a valid and sufficient reason for not voting and the process will stop.
Keeping your enrolment details up to date, including your email address and mobile number, is the best way to receive reminders about upcoming elections.
Overview of the non-voter process
If you appear not to have voted, you may receive up to 3 notices under section 85 of the Electoral Act 1985 and the Expiation of Offences Act 1996.
If you do not respond or resolve the matter, it will be referred to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit (FERU).
Apparent failure to vote notice (First notice)
When it is sent:
Within 90 days after the election, to the address on the electoral roll at the close of rolls.
What you must do:
- Complete the form
- Have it witnessed (any adult can witness it)
- Return it by reply-paid post or scan and email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Ensure it is received by ECSA by the due date
Important:
- Not responding to this notice is an offence.
- Reasons cannot be accepted or rejected over the phone.
- If you reason is accepted, no further action is required.
Expiation notice - $115 (Second notice)
You will receive this notice if you:
- Did not respond to the first notice, or
- Did not provide a valid and sufficient reason.
Fee breakdown:
- $10 expiation fee
- $105 Victims of Crime Levy
Your options:
- Pay the fine
- Enter into a payment arrangement
- Elect to be prosecuted (matters are dealt with in court)
- Apply for a review of the expiation notice
You may still provide a valid reason and stop the process.
Expiation reminder notice - $190 (Third notice)
If you fail to respond to the first 2 notices, you will receive a reminder notice.
Includes:
- Original fine
- $75 reminder fee
Your options:
- Pay the fine
- Enter a payment arrangement
- Elect to be prosecuted
- Apply for a review
You may still provide a valid reason at this stage.
Referral to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit
If, after 3 notices, you still:
- Have not paid the fine, and
- Have not provided a valid reason
... the matter will be referred to the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit (FERU).
FERU may apply additional penalties and enforcement measures.
Possible enforcement actions include:
- Driver's licence suspension
- Salary or bank account deductions
- Clamping or impounding vehicles
- Seizing and selling assets
Contact the Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit on 1800 659 538 or visit Fines SA.
How to pay your fine (before enforcement)
You will need your expiation notice, which includes your unique identification number.
Payment options:
- BPAY
- Credit card
- Over the phone
- In person
- Apply for a payment arrangement with FERU.
If you have misplaced your notice, contact ECSA.
Contact the Electoral Commission SA
Phone:
- 1300 655 232 (within SA)
- 08 7424 7400 (interstate)
- +61 8 7424 7400 (overseas)
Email:
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)
Paying an overdue fine
Once FERU has taken over enforcement, ECSA cannot accept payments.
FERU payment options include:
- Online
- Telephone
- Australia Post
- Services SA Customer Service Centres
- Payment arrangements for longer-term repayment
- Details
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 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Go to 2026 State Election Information
Mobile voting
Remote Mobile Polling is a voting service provided to electors who have difficulty attending a polling booth on polling day in remote areas. This service enables electors in remote rural and outback communities to be visited by electoral officials so they can cast their vote. For this election, remote mobile polling will be conducted in four districts: Flinders, MacKillop, Narungga, and Stuart, and will operate by both road and air. Go to 2026 State Election Information
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. Go to 2026 State Election Information
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 will need to cast a declaration vote.
Postal voting
Telephone Assisted Voting (TAV)
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". Go to 2026 State Election Information
- Details
To assist you to prepare for your day, the following page can be printed or here, linked, is a PDF to download, print and complete
 |
My state election summary voting plan for [ insert date ]
|
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
My polling places → Check where I am going to vote
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
- Details
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.
- Details
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.