South Australian councils to decide on compulsory voting push

Council delegates from across the state will meet in Adelaide on 4 December to decide whether to call on the State Government to introduce compulsory voting in council elections from 2031 and provide alternatives to postal voting.

The proposal comes after voter participation in council elections remains an ongoing topic of conversation across the sector, as participation is stagnant at 34.5 percent, 32.9 percent and 32 percent at the 2022, 2018 and 2014 elections, respectively.

Council delegates will also vote on whether to support trialling in-person voting at supplementary council elections following the April 2027 election.

Any changes to voting in South Australia’s local government elections requires the support of state parliament.

LGA South Australia President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said the debate on compulsory voting is one the local government sector needs to have and welcomed the opportunity for discussion and decision.

“Councils make decisions that directly affect people's daily lives, from roads, planning and the environment to community facilities and essential services, so it’s important residents have a say in who represents them and the decisions that shape their communities,” Mayor Holmes-Ross said.

“For some time, only around one third of South Australians eligible to vote in council elections are doing so, and compulsory voting is one potential way to strengthen voter turnout and help build a stronger and more representative local government sector.

“Compulsory voting already applies to council elections in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania – as well as state and federal elections – and extending it to South Australia would lift community participation in local democracy.

“Whether councils support such a move will be decided in December, however this debate has been long overdue and I look forward to seeing what the sector decides.”

Tasmania was the most recent state to introduce compulsory voting for council elections and saw participation jump from 58.7 percent in 2018 to 84.8 percent in 2022 when voting was made mandatory.

The LGA Conference and Annual General Meeting brings together Mayors, CEOs and Councillors from across South Australia to decide on local government advocacy and policy priorities for the year ahead.

Results from the votes of councils will be available following the AGM on 4 December.

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For media enquiries, contact media@lga.sa.gov.au or 0476 853 689.