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Friday deadline for South Australians to register to vote in March 19 election

Rikki Lambert

South Australians will participate in a more sanitised election in March

South Australians have been urged to act quickly if they need to be included on the electoral roll for the March 19 poll as the deadline looms.


An electorally significant 10,000 South Australians have signed up to vote as the deadline looms for the closing of the roll ahead of next month's state election.


The SA Electoral Commission (ECSA) says the new voters added their names to the roll during February and will now be able to cast a ballot in the March 19 poll.


Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry has urged anyone who still needs to be included, or those who need to update their details, to do so ahead of Friday's 5pm deadline:

"It's extremely important that anyone who is eligible to vote gets the opportunity to have a say in how the state is governed during the next four years.
"This is especially important for those who have turned 18 since the last election or have changed address."

More than 1.2 million people will be eligible to vote in the SA election which will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.


A significant increase in postal and pre-poll votes is expected, potentially delaying the final result.


Special arrangements have also been put in place to ensure the safety of those working in and attending one of the 750 polling venues across the state.


They include the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing rules and extra cleaning.


Voters can also use the mySA GOV phone app to check on wait times at polling centres and to register once they arrive.


Mr Sherry said the ECSA is aiming to minimise the number of voters and time spent at polling places across the state."


The SA Greens lamented their failure to secure the vote for 16 and 17 year olds, with lead Legislative Council candidate Robert Simms saying:

“If you’re 16 in South Australia, you’re old enough to drive, to work and pay taxes, surely you should be old enough to vote.
“During this term of Parliament, the Greens tried to amend the Electoral Act to give 16 and 17 year old’s the right to vote (on an optional basis). Sadly, this was not supported by other parties. I intend to move on this again in the new parliament.
“If we are serious about improving the engagement of young people in our democracy, we need to give them a say at the ballot-box.”


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