Local Government Elections

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().31 October 2024).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Local Government has advised:

1. I am advised that the percentage of voters who choose to register for council voters' rolls has remained consistent in recent elections, at around 1.6 per cent of total electors.

Any irregularities in any local government election should be brought to the attention of the Electoral Commissioner of South Australia or the Court of Disputed Returns, as provided for in the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999.

2. The Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 requires that a person (such as a non-citizen resident) is a resident at a place of residence within the council area they are enrolling for and has been a resident for a continuous period of at least one month immediately preceding the date of the application for enrolment. The rolls then close for elections over four months before counting takes place.

Using the 2022 periodic elections as an example, roll close was 29 July 2022, effectively meaning a non-citizen resident would be required to have resided in their residence from 29 June 2022 in order to cast a vote by 10 November 2022.

I am advised that the ability for non-citizen residents to apply to their council to be placed onto the voters' roll has been included in the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 since its commencement and was also provided for in the Local Government Act 1934.