Electronically Assisted Voting

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:31): I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding electronically-assisted voting methods.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: On 21 March, two days before the Dunstan by-election, the Electoral Commissioner determined via the Gazette that the prescribed electronically-assisted voting method was not to be used for the Dunstan by-election. Vote assist is a phone voting system used in South Australia by the Electoral Commissioner since the local government election in 2022. The commissioner has previously noted that a total of 744 electors voted using this service in the 2022 local government elections. My question to the Attorney-General is: why were sight-impaired electors not able to use electronically-assisted voting in the Dunstan by-election?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:32): I thank the honourable member for her question. I suspect it is a legislative impediment in our state Electoral Act that applies to state, and therefore by-elections, that doesn't apply to council elections. If that is not the case, I am happy to have a look and bring back a reply.