Voter Alerts
Voter Alerts via email or SMS are free electoral reminders to ensure you have the best opportunity to “Make your vote count – and vote.”
Timely reminders are sent straight to your phone or email inbox for elections you're able to vote in.
Be scam aware. We will never ask you to enter your credit card details or make a payment through a website.
It is OK to contact us to check it is really us.
Sign up for Voter Alerts
Your Voter Alert is linked to your electoral enrolment, so you'll only get reminders for an election you're able to vote in.
You can check your details on the electoral role – this page explains (linked)
ECSA uses emails (when available) to also engage with first time youth voters, to support in the education of the voting process.
Check my enrolment
Be aware that if an election has already commenced in your area, you won't receive messages until the next election. This is because voter data had been extracted as at the "close of roll" date.
VoterAlerts are a prompt that occasionally, due to circumstances outside our control, may be delayed or not received.
A delayed or unsent VoterAlert does not excuse you from voting.
How to manage a VoterAlert
We use the personal information you give to us to maintain the register of electors and prepare electoral rolls for state and local council elections. We may use your email and mobile phone number to send you notifications and reminders for elections and other electoral events in your area. We do not share your contact details with anyone else, unless the law requires us to. There is more information about this on our Privacy page and in our privacy policy.
Protect yourself from scams
Scammers sometimes send people messages pretending to be organisations like ECSA. Here are some tips so you don’t get tricked.
Check the sender
If you get an SMS from us, the sender will always be ECSA (not a number). You can not reply to these messages. If you get an email from us, the email address will be
Check the SMS content
Our messages will always be for information only. We will NEVER ask for your personal information, banking details or any kind of online payment.
Check the email link
Any links in our email message will be to access more information on our website (ecsa.sa.gov.au) only.
Check with us
If you're ever unsure if it's really us, you can call us on 1300 655 232 (Contact Us)
Educating the community
Education at ECSA with Paula
ECSA has a legislative responsibility to educate the community on the importance of democratic participation across the state through the provision of inclusive and accessible information and voting services.
Introducing Paula, ECSA's Educator
→ read her bio
Incusion Programs and News
"Taking democracy to the classroom." Read about our regional road trip →
St Dominics on Instagram sharing their experience (and image below)
Education Resources
We publish a wide range of educational materials designed to inform and educate South Australians about our electoral processes. Brochures, guides, and videos range in accessibility levels and are produced in multiple languages to cater for everyone.
External education civics and citizenship links →
AEC EDUCATION RESOURCES → (opens a pdf)
Downloadable PDF workbooks, worksheets and quizes
Contact
You can contact Paula via email:
ATTENTION: Education Officer
Paula is based in our Light Square, Adelaide offices.
How to vote cards
LODGED HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY – Candidates How to Vote Cards
DOWNLOAD 2024 Dunstan by-election - How to vote cards (PDF 1.94MB)
2024 District Council of Mount Remarkable supplementary elections - HIDDEN
Draw for position on the ballot paper
The draw for positions on the ballot paper was conducted at 1pm on Thursday 25 January 2024, after the close of nominations at 12 noon.
The recording of the draw can be viewed by clicking the link below.
The results can also be found in the "List of candidates" section below.
Online candidate briefing session
The online candidate briefing session was held on 11 January 2024. Watch the recording.
Nominations portal
The nominations portal is now open - all nominations are to be completed online through the nominations portal.
Candidate information
Online candidate briefing session
A briefing session for intending candidates was held online at 6 pm on Thursday 11 January 2024.
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
CANDIDATE PORTAL ACCESS (link coming soon)
A person who is a candidate for election to an office of a council must lodge the following returns with the Electoral Commissioner:
CAMPAIGN DONATIONS RETURN
Candidates must lodge a campaign donations return with the Electoral Commissioner.
Candidates must lodge 2 returns:
For a supplementary election:
- the first campaign donation return must be lodged with the returning officer in the period between 8 to 14 days after the close of nominations
- the second campaign donation return must be lodged within 30 days after the conclusion of the election.
The return must disclose:
- the total amount or value of all gifts received during the disclosure period
- the number of people who made those gifts
- the amount or value of each gift
- the date on which each gift was made
- details of persons and organisations (donors) providing those gifts.
The campaign donations return need not set out any details in respect of:
- a private gift made to the candidate
- a gift with an amount or value less than $500
- a gift already disclosed in a large gift return
If a candidate is not required to provide any details in a return, the campaign donations return must still be lodged and include a statement to the effect that no gifts of a kind required to be disclosed were received.
LARGE GIFTS RETURN
All candidates must lodge a large gifts return if they receive a gift or gifts from a donor in excess of $2,500.
The Acts prescribe different times that the large gifts return must be lodged, but during the election year, a large gift return must be lodged within 5 days of receipt of the large gift.
The return must disclose:
- the amount or value of each gift received
- details of persons and organisations (donors) providing those gifts
- the date on which each gift was made.
Two or more gifts (excluding private gifts) made by the same person to a candidate during the disclosure period are to be treated as one gift.
A large gifts return need not set out any details in respect of a private gift made to the candidate. A gift to a candidate is a private gift if it is made in a private capacity to the candidate for their personal use and the candidate has not used, and will not use, the gift solely or substantially for a purpose related to the election.
Large gifts returns should be lodged with ECSA at
Offences
See section 85 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. It is an offence to fail to lodge a return within time, to lodge a return containing false or misleading information, or to supply information that is false or misleading to another person for a return. The maximum penalty is $10,000.
Public inspection of returns
The Electoral Commissioner is required to publish all returns within prescribed times on a website maintained by the returning officer.
Records
See section 89 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. A person must take reasonable steps to retain all records relevant to a return and keep these for at least 4 years after the date of which the relevant return is required to be lodged. The maximum penalty is $5,000.
Frequently asked questions
ALL COUNCILS (other than the City of Adelaide)
What returns do I have to lodge?
- 2 campaign donation returns – whenever a gift (or multiple gifts from the same donor) is received that totals $500 or more
- Large gift return - whenever a gift (or multiple gifts from the same donor) is received that totals $2,501 or more.
Where do I lodge my returns?
Copies of the disclosure returns for lodgement by candidates are available in the candidate portal under disclosure returns. Each completed return can be lodged on the portal during the allotted time that they are due; these dates are shown in the portal. If you are unable to lodge these via the candidate portal, please contact
Is there a difference between 'gift' or 'donation?'
The Act refers to a ‘gift’, but it effectively means the same as a ‘donation’.
A gift is defined in the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (LGEA) as:
- a disposition of property
- made by a person to another person (otherwise than by will)
- without consideration in money or money’s worth or with inadequate consideration; and
- includes the provision of a service (other than volunteer labour) for no consideration or inadequate consideration.
By way of example, if a person gives money to a candidate (without getting anything in return), donates goods or services, or supplies a good or service to a candidate for less than the market or commercial rate, this may constitute a gift.
What is a 'disposition of property?'
A ‘disposition of property’ means a conveyance, transfer, assignment, settlement, delivery, payment or other alienation of property, and includes:
- the allotment of shares in a company; and
- the creation of a trust in property; and
- the grant or creation of a lease, mortgage, charge, servitude, licence, power or partnership or any interest in property; and
- the release, discharge, surrender, forfeiture or abandonment, at law or in equity, of a debt, contract or chose in action or any interest in property; and
- the exercise by a person of a general power of appointment of property in favour of another person; and
- a transaction entered into by a person with intent thereby to diminish, directly or indirectly, the value of the person's own property and to increase the value of the property of another person.
What do I have to disclose in a campaign donation return?
The form of return will be provided in the candidate portal with fillable fields to complete, including:
- the total amount or value of all gifts with an amount or value of $500 or more received by the candidate during the disclosure period
- the number of persons who made the gifts
- the amount or value of each gift
- the date on which gift was made
- the name and address of the person making the gift (or if a trust or incorporated association – the name of the association and the name and addresses of the executive committee of the association and the name and address of the trustees and title and description of the trust).
What do I have to disclose in a large gift return?
The form of return will be provided in the candidate portal with fillable fields to complete, including:
- the amount or value of each gift
- the date on which the gift was made
- the name and address of the person making the gift (or if a trust or incorporated association – the name of the association and the name and addresses of the executive committee of the association and the name and address of the trustees and title and description of the trust).
When do I have to lodge these returns?
Candidates must lodge a campaign donations return with the Electoral Commissioner.
Candidates must lodge 2 returns:
For a supplementary election:
- the first campaign donation return must be lodged with the returning officer in the period between 8 to 14 days after the close of nominations
- the second campaign donation return must be lodged within 30 days after the conclusion of the election.
Who is a candidate?
A person is a candidate if they have announced their candidacy for an election, if they have nominated as a candidate for an election, or if they are already a member of council standing for election again.
What is a 'new candidate?'
A person is defined as a ‘new candidate’, in relation to an election, if the person had not been a candidate in the last general election of a council and had not been a candidate at a supplementary election held after the last general election of a council.
Do I have to report the same campaign donation (i.e. gift) more than once?
No. Although the disclosure period (reporting period) for the second campaign donation return is the same as for the first campaign donation return, gifts already reported in the first campaign donation return do not need to be disclosed again.
What if I receive 2 or more gifts from the same donor?
There is a requirement to treat 2 or more gifts during the disclosure period as 1 gift, and once the total reaches $500 (for a campaign donation) or $2,501 (for a large gift), that ‘gift’ will be disclosed in the relevant campaign donation return or large gift return.
What if I do not receive any donations or any donations over $500? Do I still need to lodge both campaign donation returns?
Yes. You should lodge a NIL return for both.
What if I have already reported a gift received in a large gift return? Do I have to report it again in a campaign donation return?
No. You do not need to report a large gift in a later campaign donations return, if it has already been disclosed.
How do I know if something I give to a candidate needs to be disclosed?
If it is a private gift, it does not need to be disclosed. A gift is a private gift if it is made to a candidate in a private capacity for their personal use and the candidate has not used and will not use the gift solely or substantially for a purpose related to the election.
Do I have to disclose the use of volunteers as a gift?
No. Whilst the definition of a gift includes the provision of a service, volunteer labour is excluded.
Are there any other restrictions on the provision of a gift to a candidate?
Gifts to candidates are permissible, as long as they are appropriately disclosed (where required) by the candidate. Although the provision of a gift is not an illegal practice, candidates and others are subject to the requirements of s57 of the LGEA which provides that a person who offers or gives a bribe with a view to inducing a person to submit or withdraw candidature, influence votes or otherwise interfere with the election if guilty of an offence.
A bribe includes any pecuniary sum or material advantage including food, drink or entertainment where the value is equal to or more than $20.
It should be noted that it is unlawful to receive a gift of $500 or more unless the required details (name, address, etc) to identify the donor are obtained by the candidate. Records should be kept by the candidate.
What if I do not receive any donations over $2,500? Do I still need to lodge a NIL large gift return?
No. You do not need to lodge a large gift return unless you receive a gift (or gifts from the same donor) over $2,500.
Where do I find further information?
- Part 14, ss 80-90 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999
- Regulation 11A of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 2010
Information is current as of 13 January 2023.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this FAQ guide is general in nature. Candidates and others should refer to the specific wording of the Act and Regulations and seek independent legal or other advice on any issues of interpretation that may arise.
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.
View the electoral advertising page for more information.
All candidates, whether successful or not, must lodge disclosure returns.
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
- Campaign donation return LG2 (PDF, 829KB)
- Candidate handbook LG20 (PDF, 1MB)
- Large gifts return LG52 (PDF, 232KB)
- Profile and photograph requirements LG13 (PDF, 735KB)
- Scrutineer authority LG15 - (PDF, 258KB)
- Scrutineer guide LG14 - (PDF, 528KB)
- Understanding the role of a councillor (PDF, 2.4MB)
- Voters roll - Acknowledgment of use LG55 (PDF, 236KB)
Nominating as a candidate
Nominations open on Thursday 11 January 2024 and close at 12 noon Thursday 25 January 2024.
Nominations are to be completed online through the nominations portal.
Candidates must submit a profile of not more than 1000 characters with their nomination and may also provide a photograph, predominantly head and shoulders, taken within the previous 12 months.
Find out more about what it's like to be a member of council.
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.
Enrolment
The electoral roll for the supplementary elections closed at 5 pm on Wednesday 20 December 2023.
If you are correctly enrolled for state elections in South Australia, you are automatically included on the council voters roll and will receive ballot papers through the post.
If you need to check or update your enrolment for future elections, you can choose one of the following options:
- Check my enrolment
- Enrol online (first time voters or to get back on the roll)
- Update my details online (for updates to your address, name or other contact details)
Council supplementary roll
If you are not enrolled on the state electoral roll you may be eligible to register on the council supplementary roll if you are:
- a resident or a non-Australian citizen who has lived at your residential address for one month or more
- an owner of an organisation or business
- an owner of a holiday home
- a sole owner, or group of owners, of a rateable property
- a sole occupier, or group of occupiers, of a rateable property
- a landlord of rateable property.
In accordance with section 15(5a) of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999, council must purge the council's supplementary roll on 1 January of every election year. Therefore, all landlords, organisations, business owners or occupiers, and resident non-Australian citizens, must re-enrol from January 1 of every election year to be eligible to vote, with the exception of the City of Adelaide.
If you are unsure whether you are enrolled on the council supplementary roll, contact your local council.
List of candidates
In accordance with the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 (section 25), the following nominations were declared elected to their respective councillor offices:
District Council of Mount Remarkable – Telowie Ward
EVANS, Jane (photo and profile coming soon)
District Council of Mount Remarkable – Willochra Ward
SCHULTZ, Roger (photo and profile coming soon)
Timetable
| Event | Legislation* | Date |
|
Close of rolls |
s 6(7)(a), s 15(9)(b) |
5 pm, Wednesday 20 December 2023 |
|
Nominations open |
s 19(4) |
Thursday 11 January 2024 |
| Online candidate briefing session | 6 pm, Thursday 11 January 2024 | |
|
Nominations close |
s 23(b) |
12 noon, Thursday 25 January 2024 |
|
Draw for positions on the ballot paper |
s 29(3)(b) |
as soon as practicable after 12 noon, Thursday 25 January 2024 |
| First campaign donation return due | s 80(3)(a)(ii) | Thursday 1 February 2024 to Thursday 8 February 2024 |
|
Mailout of materials |
s 39(1) |
Wednesday 14 February 2024 to Tuesday 20 February 2024 |
|
Last day for re-issue of voting materials |
s 39(4), s 43(4) |
5 pm, Tuesday 5 March 2024 |
|
Close of voting (polling day) |
s 6(6), s 6(7)(b) |
12 noon, Tuesday 12 March 2024 |
|
Scrutiny and count |
s 47(1)(a) |
Wednesday 13 March 2024 |
| Second campaign donation return due | s 80(3)(b) |
Within 30 days of the 'conclusion of the election' |