On this page:
- Candidate qualifications
- Key dates for nominating
- Nominating as an independent ungrouped candidate
- Nominating as an independent grouped candidate
- Nominating as a party-endorsed candidate
- Additional nomination rules
- Forms and resources
Nominating for the Legislative Council
A step-by-step guide for prospective candidates in the 2026 State Election.
Overview
This page explains how to nominate as a candidate for the Legislative Council in the 2026 State Election. It outlines eligibility requirements, required forms, nomination deposits, and lodgement processes for independent ungrouped candidates, independent grouped candidates, and candidates endorsed by registered political parties. All requirements are set under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act).
The Candidate Guide provides detailed instructions, examples, and legislative references to support your nomination and should be read alongside this information.
Candidate qualifications
To qualify as a candidate, you must:
- be enrolled to vote in South Australia.
- not be required to immediately vacate your seat under the Constitution Act 1934 (for example, due to holding certain offices).
- not nominate for more than one election held on the same day.
Key dates
| Event | Date |
|
Nominations open |
23 February 2026 |
|
Electoral roll closes |
27 February 2026 |
|
Party bulk nominations close |
27 February 2026 |
|
Independent nominations close |
2 March 2026 |
|
Nominations declared |
2 March 2026 |
Ways to nominate
Candidates may nominate in one of 3 ways:
Independent ungrouped (not endorsed by a political party)
You lodge your own nomination and appear individually on the ballot paper.
Independent grouped (not endorsed by a political party)
You lodge your nomination as part of a group that appears together on the ballot paper.
Party-endorsed candidate
Your party's registered officer lodges the nomination on your behalf.
Independent ungrouped candidates
1. Eligibility
To nominate as an independent ungrouped candidate, you must be supported by:
- At least 250 eligible electors enrolled for the Legislative Council.
2. Nomination deposit
A $3,000 deposit must accompany your nomination. Accepted payment methods:
- Banker’s cheque (personal cheques cannot be accepted).
- Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA)
- A printed receipt showing successful lodgement must be provided for EFT payments.
The deposit must be received before nominations close.
3. What you need to lodge
Submit the following documents to the returning officer before nominations close:
- RO 55 – Independent ungrouped candidate nomination form.
- RO 56 – List of at least 250 nominators, including signatures and enrolment details.
- $3,000 deposit (banker’s cheque or EFT receipt).
4. Lodgement
Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a time to lodge a nomination. It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to verify nominators.
Independent grouped candidates
1. Eligibility
To nominate as an independent grouped candidate, each candidate in the group must be supported by:
- At least 250 eligible electors enrolled for the Legislative Council.
2. Nomination deposit
A $3,000 deposit per candidate must accompany the nomination. Accepted payment methods:
- Banker’s cheque (personal cheques cannot be accepted).
- Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to ECSA
- A printed receipt showing successful lodgement must be provided for EFT payments.
The deposit must be received before nominations close.
3. What you need to lodge
Submit the following documents to the returning officer before nominations close:
- RO 54 - 'Independent grouped candidate nomination' form (one per candidate).
- RO 54A - 'Application for a group on the ballot paper - independent group'.
- RO 56 – List of at least 250 nominators, including signatures and enrolment details, for every candidate.
- $3,000 deposit per candidate
4. Lodgement
Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a lodgement appointment. It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to verify nominators.
Party-endorsed candidates
1. Nomination process
- Complete the 'Endorsed party candidate nomination' form (RO 50).
- Return it to your party’s registered officer along with an 'Application for a group on the ballot paper' (either RO 50B or RO 50C).
- The registered officer lodges all endorsed nominations directly with ECSA.
2. Requirements for registered officers
Registered officers must:
- Lodge all the party's 'Endorsed party candidate nomination' forms (RO 50).
- Lodge the 'Endorsement of the nominations by a party' (RO 50A).
- Submit an 'Application for a group on the ballot paper' (either RO 50B or RO 50C).
- Submit a $3,000 deposit per candidate in banker's cheque or EFT.
Additional nomination rules
Withdrawing your nomination
Candidates may withdraw their nomination by lodging written notice with the returning officer before the hour of nomination.
- If withdrawn, the nomination is revoked.
- The deposit is refunded.
Deposit refunds
Your $3,000 deposit will be refunded if:
- You are elected, or
- You receive more than 2% of first‑preference votes.
Otherwise, the deposit is forfeited. If a candidate dies before polling day, the deposit is returned to their personal representative.
Declaration of nominations
At the hour of nomination, the returning officer will:
- Publicly produce all nomination papers received.
- Declare the names and addresses of all duly nominated candidates
- If a candidate’s address is suppressed, only their district of residence is declared.
Candidate name rules
These rules ensure names on ballot papers are clear and not misleading for voters.
A nomination may be rejected if the candidate’s name is:
- Obscene
- Frivolous
- Assumed for an ulterior purpose.
If practicable, the candidate will be notified and may lodge a fresh nomination before the hour of nomination.
If a candidate dies
If 2 or more Legislative Council candidates die after nominations are declared and before polling day, the election for the Legislative Council is taken to have wholly failed and will need to be re‑run in accordance with the Act.
Forms and resources
All required nomination forms and supporting guides are available below.