When and where to vote

Polling day is Saturday 21 March 2026. Polling booths open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Accessibility ratings are included on the back of your EasyVote card.

Early voting

Early voting centres will open across South Australia, interstate capital cities and at some overseas consulates and embassies.

Postal voting

To vote by post, you first need to complete and lodge an application form. There are 3 ways you can obtain an official postal vote application:

• Download a postal vote application
• Pick one up from any Australia Post outlet
• Phone us on 1300 655 232 and we will send you one

EasyVote Cards

In early March, South Australian voters will receive an EasyVote Card in the post.

The card features a unique QR code that can be scanned when you go to vote. This will instantly mark your name off the electoral roll, making your voting experience streamlined and faster.

The card also includes a list of your nearest polling booths on the back.

PS Don't worry if you forget to bring the card or your phone to the polling booth. You can still vote. We will mark your name off the electoral roll manually.

Information in other formats

• If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us using the National Relay Service.

• TTY users’ phone 133 677 and ask for 1300 655 232. Speak and listen users’ phone 1300 555 727 and quote 1300 655 232.
• Internet relay users connect to National Relay Service and then ask for 1300 655 232

Information in other languages

Translated versions of this guide can be found at ecsa.sa.gov.au/languages. If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone the Electoral Commission SA on 1300 655 232.

Contact us

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Phone: 1300 655 232

Telephone Assisted Voting

Telephone assisted voting (TAV) will be available for the 2026 State Elections. This service allows eligible electors to cast a secret vote using a telephone assisted process. The vote is completed with the assistance of staff while maintaining the voters’ anonymity during the process. More information to come.

Permanent postal voting

ECSA maintains a register of voters who are permanently unable to attend a polling place during state elections or by-elections and who meet prescribed eligibility criteria. These individuals are classified as Registered Declaration Voters for state elections and as General Postal Voters for federal elections. Once registered, ECSA automatically sends out voting packs for every state election or by-election. You do not need to re-apply for future elections.

To apply to become a registered declaration voter you must be enrolled and meet one of the following criteria that prevent you from attending a polling place on polling day: 

• Distance – you are enrolled at an address more than 20 km away from any polling place
• Illness – you are a patient at a hospital or nursing home and unable to travel to a polling place
• Infirmity – you are unable to travel to a polling place due to being infirm or seriously ill at home
• Caring for others – caring for a person who is seriously ill or infirm
• Physical disability – you are unable to sign your name due to a physical incapacity
• Religion – your religious beliefs or membership of a religious order prevent you from attending a polling place on polling day
• Overseas – you are registered as an overseas elector
• Silent elector – you are an elector whose address has been suppressed

Apply to become a permanent postal voter

To join the register of declaration voters, you need to complete and sign a form: 
Registered postal voter information and application form

*This is an external link to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) which manages registrations for ECSA. Please note that the one form allows you to register both as a registered declaration voter for South Australian elections and as a general postal voter for federal elections. For any questions about the register, call the AEC on 13 23 26.

Council election voting (local government)

Voting in council elections, including supplementary council elections, is conducted by post. All election materials, including your ballot papers, are automatically mailed directly to the postal address you provided on the electoral roll.  It's important you keep your address details up to date.

• Enrol to vote or update my details

Once nominations close for a council election (including a supplementary election), ballot papers are printed and postal ballot packs are sent to your nominated postal address. More information can be found on this website at the time of an election.

• Find out what's included in your postal ballot pack

Parliamentary election postal voting

Postal voting eligibility criteria for state and by- elections

You are eligible to vote by post if, on polling day, you:

• are more than 8 km from a polling booth
• are travelling
• are ill, infirm or disabled – preventing you from attending a polling booth
• are due to give birth shortly
• are caring for someone who is ill, infirm or disabled - preventing you from attending a polling booth
• have religious beliefs - preventing you from attending a polling booth
• are working and unable to leave your workplace to vote
• are a resident of a declared institution being a hospital, convalescent home, nursing home, home for the aged, hostel for the aged or infirm, prison or other places of confinement
• have your address suppressed on the electoral roll (a silent elector)
• are subject to a direction under the Emergency Management Act 2004 requiring you to quarantine or isolate during the hours of polling.

The Electoral Commission SA (ECSA) is committed to ensuring all South Australians can vote in the 2022 State Election, including those affected by COVID.

If you are in isolation or quarantine, are a close contact or have developed COVID-19 symptoms, please see your voting options on our COVID affected voters page.

COVID safe voting in polling booths