Proportional representation electoral system

The electoral system used in local government elections in South Australia is the proportional representation electoral system, or PR for short.

Proportional representation is the term that describes a group of electoral systems used for elections in multi-member electorates to elect candidates who receive a set proportion of the vote. In Australia, these systems are classified into 3 categories.

• List systems
• Mixed-member proportional systems
• Single transferable vote (STV) systems

In South Australia, the electoral system used is the STV type. Under STV electoral systems, each vote can be transferred between candidates in the order of the voter's preferences.

The proportional representation vote counting system is designed to ensure that vacant positions are allocated as nearly as possible in proportion to the votes received. It is assessed as a ‘fair’ system for counting votes but more complex than other counting systems, and may take longer to finalise.

A candidate is elected after obtaining a quota or proportion of the formal vote.

Calculating the quota

The quota is the number of votes a candidate needs to be certain of election.

The quota is calculated by dividing the total number of formal ballot papers in the count by one more than the number of vacancies available, adding one and ignoring any fractional remainder.

For example, if there were a total of 1,000 formal votes and 2 candidates to be elected, the quota would be:

Quota: (1,000 / (2 + 1)) + 1 = 334.333 = 334

PR count diagram

Proportional representation booklet

PR count processes and examples (PDF, 593KB)

Proportional representation - how we count the votes

Early voting

The following table shows the daily declaration votes cast at the early voting centre in Myrtle Bank and via the ECSA COVID-19 voting team.

* includes COVID-affected voters that completed declaration votes via ECSA voting teams

Postal voting

The following table shows the daily number of postal vote applications received and returned postal ballots.

Please contact the relevant electoral commission office prior to attendance. 

How to complete your ballot paper

When voting in the by-election you will be given a green House of Assembly ballot paper listing all candidates contesting the election.

To ensure your vote is counted, you need to number every square on the ballot paper in the order of your choice.

• Write the number 1 in the square next to the candidate who is your first choice
• Write the number 2 next to your second choice
• Continue by placing the numbers 3, 4, 5 and so on until you have a number in every square. 

If you need assistance or make a mistake please see an electoral officer.

You can practice making a formal vote by using our interactive ballot paper below:

House of Assembly practice ballot paper >>