Voting has officially begun for the 2022 Local Government Elections.
Election packs were last week, with areas that are further away from Adelaide and have a large number of voters prioritised.
This is the first time that South Australians will be able to vote by phone for an election, the service being available for those living with low vision and blindness, or who are out of state for the voting period.
Voters should start to receive the first set of ballot packs this week.
From Wednesday, October 19, Electoral Commission SA anticipates they will begin to receive the first returned ballots by mail.
South Australians must return their ballots using the supplied reply paid envelope, to arrive at with ECSA before 5pm on November 10.
The Electoral Commissioner of South Australia, Mick Sherry, has encouraged those living with low vision or blindness and electors who are interstate or overseas throughout the three-week 2022 Council Elections voting period to vote by phone.
“These new regulations have been passed for the benefit and convenience of voters who may have barriers to overcome when completing a paper ballot, such as those living with low vision or blindness – or those out of state during the voting period.
“This is the first time ECSA has been able to offer this service, after regulations were changed earlier this month.
“When developing recommendations for the new regulations, we engaged with the blind and low vision sector, such as the Royal Society for the Blind, to develop the process and ensure ease of use.
“We encourage those who are eligible to consider the service. However, they are not required to vote via telephone; they can still complete the printed ballot papers they receive in the mail from 17 October and return them in the reply-paid envelope.”
Eligible voters can cast their votes from 10 am on 17 October until 5 pm on 10 November
2022.
Electors using telephone voting should familiarise themselves with the candidates running in their local council area and decide how they plan to cast their votes before calling the telephone voting centre.
Eligible electors will access the service by calling the ECSA call centre at 1300 655 232, where an electoral official will confirm their eligibility to vote via telephone.
