State Election News

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Published: 26 November 2025

The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) has appointed Hughes PR, a respected Adelaide-based communication management consultancy, to support public relations efforts for the 2026 State Election.

With over three decades of experience in strategic communication, reputation management, and crisis response, Hughes PR will play a key role in supporting ECSA’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and public confidence in the electoral process.

In an increasingly complex media landscape, where misinformation and disinformation pose real risks, Hughes PR will work closely with ECSA to proactively manage media relations and provide expert guidance.

The appointment followed a competitive procurement process supported by Dept of Treasury & Finance, Procurement SA, with final documentation signed earlier this week. Hughes PR’s expertise will be instrumental in helping ECSA navigate any new challenges presented during the 2026 State Election, scheduled for Saturday, 21 March 2026.

State Election website

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Published: 22 October 2025

ECSA's Engagement Officers will host an online session to answer questions and share information about the next SA First Nations Voice Election and State Election, which is to be held on Saturday, 21 March 2026.

Engagement Event Online - RSVP essential for meeting link
Date: Tuesday 11 November 2025
Time: 5.30pm-7pm
Register: via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We will discuss:

·         Enrolling on the electoral roll
·         Voting in the SA First Nations Voice Election and 2026 State Election
·         Nominating for the SA First Nations Voice Election
·         Candidate support

More information
https://www.savoiceelection.sa.gov.au/ 

Aboriginal Engagement Officer
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: 1300 655 232

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Published: 22 October 2025

ECSA's Engagement Officers are visiting Adelaide Central, Christies Beach, Elizabeth, Klemzig, and Port Adelaide during November and December 2025, to share information about the next SA First Nations Voice Election and State Election, which is to be held on Saturday, 21 March 2026.

Engagement Events:

1. Christies Beach Neporendi/Wardli Youth Centre, Thursday 13 November, 11am–2pm
2. Klemzig Klemzig Community Hall, Tuesday 2 December, 11am–2pm
3. Port Adelaide Tauondi College, Thursday 4 December, 10.30am–12.30pm
4. Elizabeth Playford Civic Centre, Tuesday 16 December, 11am–2pm
5. Adelaide Pilgrim Centre, Thursday 18 December, 11am–2pm

They will discuss:

• Enrolling on the electoral roll
• Voting in the SA First Nations Voice Election and 2026 State Election
• Nominating for the SA First Nations Voice Election
• Candidate support
  • You can nominate at an engagement session if you bring your ID with you.

More information
https://www.savoiceelection.sa.gov.au/ 

Aboriginal Engagement Officer
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: 1300 655 232

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The SA First Nations Voice Election is the process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of South Australia to elect candidates to represent their community. Elected members for each region form a Local First Nations Voice. They can provide advice on laws, policies and programs through direct communication with the decision-makers.

A candidate is a person who has put their hand up to represent their community and become a member of a Local First Nations Voice.

To nominate, you must complete a nomination form and submit it to ECSA.

Nominations open Tuesday, 27 January 2026 and all documents must be received by ECSA before the close of nominations at 5pm Tuesday, 10 February 2026.

Details

Published: 01 August 2025

The first meeting of the Disability Engagement Advisory (DEA) Committee marked a pivotal step in South Australia’s commitment to making electoral services more inclusive and accessible for people living with disability. With a full agenda and a shared sense of purpose, the committee began its journey to ensure that all South Australians are respectfully included in the democratic process for the 2026 State Election.

Mick Sherry, the Electoral Commissioner of South Australia said,

"As Commissioner, I am conscious of my responsibility in creating a culture of awareness, acceptance and celebration of diversity not only within the workplace, but also for elections.”

“We've got a really busy year next year. We've got the state election in March, followed closely by the council elections. The state election is basically the largest logistical event in this state. 1.3 million electors can vote, and my job is to ensure that we provide convenient, accessible voting options for those electors. It doesn't matter where they are – they could be in the in the APY Lands, in London or in Sydney, or simply local South Australia. Everyone must be provided the opportunity to be able to participate in our election. Sounds simple, but it's a significant challenge. For most South Australians, voting is a relatively straightforward exercise that is successfully done. Those living with disability; the act of voting can be much more challenging.”

The meeting brought together representatives from a diverse range of disability organisations, each contributing valuable perspectives on the challenges faced by their communities.

Discussions highlighted the importance of accessible information, or the need to support individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities, recognising that many people experience barriers that are not immediately apparent. Mental health advocates raised concerns about voting access for individuals in hospital settings, while others spoke about the unique needs of people with neurological conditions, autism, and sensory impairments. The importance of carers and support persons was also noted, particularly for those who require assistance to navigate the voting process. The committee acknowledged the significant number of South Australians with impaired decision-making capacity and explored ways to ensure their inclusion in the democratic process. Personal experiences shared by members, underscored the value of respectful and supportive treatment at polling places.

The Electoral Commissioner reaffirmed its commitment to removing barriers and creating mechanisms that enable all eligible voters to participate, regardless of their disability. This initiative is part of a broader effort to embrace the voices of young people, First Nations peoples, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, ensuring that electoral representation reflects the full diversity of South Australia.

The DEA Committee’s work is just beginning, but its vision is clear: a democratic process that is inclusive, respectful, and accessible to all.

The role of ECSA’s Disability Advisory Committee (DEA) is to discuss and advise ECSA on issues and strategies to ensure electors with disability are included, engaged and empowered to vote through the provision of accessible voting services and information.

Committee Members

• Blind Citizens Australia
• Brain Injury SA
• Can:Do Group
• Catalyst Foundation
• Disability SA
• Mental Health Coalition SA
• MS SA and NT
• Office for Autism
• Office of Public Advocate
• Purple Orange
• SeeDifferently (formally RSB)

If your organisation wishes to understand how they can be involved with the Disability Engagement Advisory Committee, please contact Manager Communication and Engagement, Immacolata Bollella via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.