Response to ECSA request to delay council elections until 2027
Comments attributable to LGA South Australia President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross:
We understand the pressure currently facing the Electoral Commission of South Australia and acknowledge the Acting Commissioner's request to move council elections to mid next year.
We are now looking at the implications of the proposed changes, recognising there will be differing views from across the sector.
There are several practical considerations surrounding issues like timing, legislative provisions, budget processes and term length of elected officials.
We also know that for some current elected members, they may have already made personal choices on whether they stand again or not.
LGA has repeatedly highlighted the challenges that can arise from state and local elections being held in the same year and ECSA's call to move the elections reinforces these concerns.
This is a late call but integrity in democratic elections is fundamental, and in that context we respect the Acting Commissioner’s request.