A record number of voters are ready to take to the polls in the 2022 State Election (Saturday 19 March), according to the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA).
Welcoming the trend, Electoral Commissioner, Mick Sherry said 1,266,719 South Australians had 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.
“In February alone, more than 10,000 new South Australian voters joined the electoral roll which is a fantastic result,” Mr Sherry said.
“Since January this year, over 14,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 years have enrolled to vote,” he said.
“As this is the first South Australian State Election since COVID began, there are a number of 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.”
Mr Sherry said ECSA had increased the number of early voting centres, which would open across the State today (Monday 7 March) and operate until Friday 18 March.
Mr Sherry said eligible voters could apply for a postal vote until 5pm on Thursday 17 March.
“South Australians who are COVID-positive or a close contact required to isolate or quarantine can apply to vote by post,” he said.
Mr Sherry said that if voters were COVID-positive, were a close contact required to isolate or quarantine, or had COVID symptoms between 17-19 March, they would be eligible to pick up a voting pack at selected PCR or RAT collection sites across the State.
ECSA’s four-page State Election Guide can be downloaded at this PS News link.
