SOUTH Australians in isolation will be able to collect voting papers for the upcoming State election at Covid-19 testing stations or Rapid Antigen collection points.
In a first for the State, 22 PCR testing stations and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) collections points locations across South Australia, including in Mount Gambier, Millicent, Naracoorte, Kingston and Bordertown, will double as ballot collection points allowing close contacts and Covid-19 impacted individuals to vote safely.
If South Australians are Covid-positive, a close contact, or have Covid symptoms between Thursday, March 17, and election day on Saturday, March 19, they will be eligible to register online and will be invited to pick up a voting pack at a PCR testing site or RAT collection site.
Under the updated Emergency Management Act, Covid-19 impacted individuals will have permission to leave home to collect their ballot papers and post their completed ballots while still in isolation.
Independent for Mount Gambier Troy Bell last week participated in a sit-in at parliament calling for the Premier to reinstate parliament, in order to pass a proposed Electoral (Assisted Voting) Bill 2022 that would allow South Australians in quarantine on election day to vote over the phone.
Mr Bell said he was relieved that provisions had been made to allow people to vote, but was concerned about the toll forcing ill people out of their homes could have on their health.
“My only concern is those who are in home quarantine but are actually ill, being able to get out and vote,” Mr Bell said.
“When in my mind an extension to the telephone voting system, which is used already for the vision-impaired or blind voters, could have been extended.
“It is a solution, but it will come at an expense.”
Mr Bell said the planning around voting while living with Covid should have begun earlier.
“I think it is a testament to the independents who raised this issue and sought to get clarity from the Government around it,” Mr Bell said.
“Up until last week there was no urgency or no talk on how those who could not do a postal vote were going to vote.”
The changes to the electoral voting system have been made through updates to the Emergency Management Act, a move Mr Bell was critical of.
“I am very firm that these decisions should always be made by parliament, and not by a police commissioner under an emergency management act.”
“It is a bad precedent to set, and it is one that I do not endorse.”
Electoral Commissioner, Mick Sherry, said the Electoral Commission has worked in consultation with SA Health, SA Pathology, SAFECOM and SA Police to come up with the solution.
“We have every confidence that South Australians can vote safely in the 2022 State election,” Mr Sherry said.
“Allowing PCR and RAT sites to double as voting pack collection points will allow South Australians who are in isolation or have Covid-19 the opportunity to safely cast their vote this State election,” he said.
Voters being allowed to leave isolation to collect and post their ballot papers so they can exercise their right to vote will be part of the approved directions.
