Registers

Registers maintained by the Electoral Commissioner
Under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), the Electoral Commissioner is responsible for maintaining several official registers. These registers promote transparency and accountability in electoral processes and ensure compliance with the Act.

Agents
This register records the names and addresses of all appointed agents. Each entry is conclusive evidence of appointment under the Act. Removal may occur due to resignation, termination, or conviction.

Nominated entities
This register lists each nominated entity, including its name, address, associated political party, and any other details required by regulation. It must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Political parties
This register contains all political parties registered under the Act. It is available for public inspection, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the Electoral Commissioner’s principal office.

Third parties
This register lists all third parties registered under Division 8A of the Act. It must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Funding and disclosure - all participants

On this page

Overview

The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) provides funding to support election-related activities under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act). This includes funding for registered political parties, independent MPs, candidates, and groups. All payments are indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Key funding streams
  1. Public funding - including advance payments to support campaign activities
  2. Administrative expenditure funding - covering operational costs, with options for one-off payments
  3. Policy development funding - to assist in the formulation of party policies.

👉 See funding and disclosure information specific to political parties.

Electoral reforms

From 1 July 2025, the Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024  introduced reforms to South Australia’s electoral framework to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity in electoral funding and political donations.

To support stakeholders, ECSA will provide ongoing guidance to assist participants in understanding their obligations under the new legislation; however, independent legal advice is encouraged.

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Public funding

Public funding supports registered political parties, candidates, and groups in covering costs associated with state election campaigns and by-elections. The amount of funding is calculated per eligible vote and varies depending on the participant’s type and parliamentary status.

Eligibility

To qualify for a payment of public funding, candidates, groups, and registered political parties must meet specific eligibility criteria:

  • Candidates: Must be elected or receive at least 4% (House of Assembly) or 2% (Legislative Council) of total primary votes.
  • Groups: Must have at least one elected member or receive at least 2% of total primary votes (Legislative Council).
  • Registered political parties: 
    • Must have been registered for at least 8 months prior to the election.
    • Must meet vote thresholds similar to candidates and groups.
    • Must provide satisfactory evidence of political expenditure to receive funding.
    • Must operate a state campaign account for managing public funding and electoral expenses.

Funding entitlement

Public funding is calculated per eligible vote and varies depending on the type of participant and their parliamentary status. There are 2 types of entitlements: standard and tapered.

Candidate or group type Entitlement type Funding rate (2026 indexed)

Endorsed by a registered political party with at least one MP at dissolution

Standard

 $5.50 per eligible vote
Endorsed by a registered political party with no MPs at dissolution

Tapered

 $6.00 per vote for first 10% of total primary votes
$5.50 per vote thereafter
Independent candidate or group with a sitting MP at dissolution Standard $8.50 per eligible vote
Other independent candidates or groups Tapered $9.00 per vote for first 10% of total primary votes
$8.50 per vote thereafter

 Important:

  • Funding is limited to actual political expenditure incurred.
  • No payment will be made without satisfactory evidence of political expenditure.

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Appointing an agent

Agents manage funding and disclosure obligations and ensure compliance with the Act.

👉 See our agents page for details.

Prescribed details for returns

Under the Act, all participants required to lodge returns, including registered political parties, third parties, associated entities, and their agents, must include prescribed details to meet funding and disclosure obligations.

👉 See our prescribed details page for more information.

State campaign accounts

Required for managing donations, public funding, and political expenditure. Must be opened with an authorised bank and registered with ECSA.

👉 See our state campaign accounts page for details.

Expenditure caps

Expenditure caps apply to political participants during election periods. These rules help ensure fairness and transparency in campaign spending.

  • Spending limits apply from 1 July before the election to 30 days after polling day.
  • Participants spending over $5,000 must lodge a capped expenditure return within 60 days after polling day.

👉 See our expenditure caps page for details.

Reporting and disclosure obligations

Political participants must meet specific reporting requirements under South Australian electoral law. These obligations ensure transparency in campaign financing and political expenditure.

Relevant links:

👉 Associated entities

👉 Candidates and groups

👉 Political parties

👉 Third parties


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Types of funding

Advance funding

Provides early access to public funds before polling day. Requires eligibility certification and may require repayment if conditions aren’t met.

👉 Learn more on our advance funding page.

👉 For detailed information, see:

By-elections

Advance public funding is available in a House of Assembly by-election, but only under strict conditions.

👉 Learn more on our advance funding page.

Administrative funding

Administrative funding (formerly known as special assistance funding) is a form of public funding provided under Division 5 of the Act. It is paid as a half-yearly entitlement to eligible registered political parties and independent members of parliament to assist with the reimbursement of administrative expenditure.

Funding is available to:

  • Registered political parties with one or more members in the South Australian Parliament (House of Assembly or Legislative Council)
  • Independent members of parliament.

👉See or administrative funding page for details.

Policy development funding

Reimburses registered parties for policy-related expenses incurred during the financial year.

👉 See our policy development funding page for details. 

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Council elections

Live Local. Lead Local.

Make your mark. Council elections are your opportunity to represent your community.

As a council member, you can help create a future that you and your community can be proud of and enjoy. If you are passionate about your local community, willing to work as part of a team, keen to learn and make a difference, nominate for a position on council. In South Australia, whole of state council elections (called periodic elections) are held every 4 years for all 68 councils except the Municipal Council of Roxby Downs, which operates under its own administration. The next periodic council elections will take place in November 2026.

If an elected position on a council becomes vacant between periodic elections, ECSA may conduct a supplementary election. A vacancy can occur due to death, illness, resignation, or any other circumstances.

Acts and Regulations

The rules that govern council elections are set out in:

The Acts and Regulations should be read in conjunction with the Local Government Act 1999.

Candidate eligibility and ineligibility


You are eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you are:

  • an Australian citizen
  • at the time the electoral roll closes:
    • enrolled in the council area you are contesting, or
    • the nominee of a body corporate or a group that has its name on the voters roll for the council area
    • left off the voters roll for the council area in error.

You are not eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you are:

  • a member of an Australian Parliament; or
  • an undischarged bankrupt or receiving the benefit of a law for the relief of insolvent debtors; or
  • have been sentenced to imprisonment and are, or could on the happening of some contingency become, liable to serve the sentence or the remainder of the sentence; or
  • are an employee of the council; or
  • are disqualified from election by court order under the Local Government Act 1999.

You are not eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you:

  • in the case of a supplementary election - are a member of another council; or
  • in the case of any election - are a candidate for election as a member of another council

Candidate disclosure returns

A person who is a candidate for election to an office of a council must lodge the following returns with the Electoral Commissioner:

  • A candidate in a Local Government Election, you are required to lodge two campaign donation returns at the times prescribed by the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999
  • A candidate that receives a gift valued at more than $2,500 (or gifts totalling $2,500 from the same donor) must submit a large gift return within 5 days of receipt of that gift

More information about candidate disclosure returns for recent elections can be accessed via the candidate returns for council elections page.

Candidate responsibilities

As a candidate, you have a range of important responsibilities and obligations under the law. These include making sure all electoral material you publish contains the proper authorisation statement, and that the material is not inaccurate and misleading. All candidates, whether successful or not, must lodge disclosure returns. 

Responsibilities as a member of a council

Councils are responsible for many of the services that make South Australia such a great place to live and work, including libraries, playgrounds, sporting facilities and rubbish and recycling. Becoming a councillor or mayor means you will help shape a wide range of policies and decisions that will impact the short and long-term future of your local community. More information can be found on the council elections website (this link goes to an external website).

Electoral advertising

There are restrictions placed on advertising during, and outside of, an election period. These are contained within Part 7 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. The Electoral Commission SA is unable to provide advice on the interpretation of these provisions. Therefore, if you are in doubt about the interpretation, we recommend you seek independent legal advice.

Learn more on our electoral advertising page.

Forms and handbooks


Advance funding

On this page

Overview

The Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024 introduces advance payments for political participants who lodge a section 130PF certificate. These reforms apply from 1 July 2025 and are part of broader changes to South Australia's electoral funding framework.

Quick links

👉 Advance funding - House of Assembly elections (article)

👉 Advance funding - Legislative Council elections (article)

👉 Election Funding - Advance Funding Guide (PDF, 388KB)

Eligibility

Advance public funding is available to:

  • Candidates
  • Groups
  • Registered political parties
  • Independent members.

Important: An agent must apply before polling day. Funds are deposited into the state campaign account, not to individuals.

Payment structure

Advance funding is paid in 2 instalments:

  • Payment A: 60% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting).
  • Payment B: 20% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting).

How it’s calculated

Funding is based on estimated entitlement under section 130P, using either:

  • Previous state election results (notional amount), or
  • A set amount fixed by legislation.

Different formulas apply for House of Assembly (HA) and Legislative Council (LC) elections.

Lodging a section 130PF certificate

  • Must be lodged after the capped expenditure period begins and before polling day
  • Once lodged, the certificate cannot be withdrawn
  • Late lodgement may result in no advance funding, but you may still qualify under section 130Q(3)(b) if a section 130Q certificate is lodged within 14 days after polling day.

Payment timing

  • Payment A – paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the section 130PF certificate is lodged.
  • Payment B – paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the writ is issued*.

* For entitled candidates and groups, Payment B is triggered by the nomination of the candidate(s), not the issue of the writ.

Late lodgement

If the certificate is lodged after the writ but before polling day, Payment A and B are combined.

Use of public funding

Funding can be used for campaign-related costs such as:

  • Production, display, and distribution of electoral matter
  • Stationery and postage for electoral matter
  • Mobile phones used primarily for campaign purposes
  • Employing staff during the capped expenditure period
  • Office accommodation and associated expenditure (other than the headquarters of a registered political party)
  • Advertising (production, distribution, publishing).

Prohibited: General administration or operational costs unrelated to the campaign.

Early payment of certain advance funding

Under Section 130PD of the Electoral Act 1985, certain political participants may request an early payment of a portion of their advance public funding before the capped expenditure period begins.

👉 See advance funding early payment page for more information

Deductions and repayments

Advance public funding received for both House of Assembly and Legislative Council elections is deducted from the final public funding entitlement under section 130P of the Electoral Act.

You may need to repay advance funding if:

  • No candidates are nominated
  • Candidates don't meet vote thresholds
    • HA: Must receive at least 4% of first preference votes
    • LC: Must receive at least 2% of first preference votes
  • Overpayment occurs.

By-elections

Advance public funding is available in a House of Assembly by-election, but only under strict conditions.

👉 Learn more on our advance funding for HA by-elections page

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