South Australian Current Acts

ELECTORAL ACT 1985 - SECT 77

77—Times and places for polling

        (1)         Polling is to be conducted—

            (a)         at an appointed polling place—in the polling booth established for that place;

            (b)         at such other places within a remote subdivision as may be determined by the Electoral Commissioner—in a mobile polling booth.

        (2)         Polling at a polling booth must be conducted at the following times:

            (a)         in the case of polling at a polling booth at an appointed polling place—

                  (i)         the poll must open at 8 a.m. on polling day and must not close until all electors present in the polling booth at 6 p.m., and desiring to vote, have voted; and

                  (ii)         the doors of the polling booth must be closed at 6 p.m. and no person may be admitted after that hour to the polling booth for the purpose of voting;

            (b)         in the case of polling at a mobile polling booth in a remote subdivision—the poll must open and close at such times (being times that fall within the 12 days up to and including polling day) as may be determined by the Electoral Commissioner.

        (3)         The Electoral Commissioner must, by notice published in a newspaper circulating generally throughout the State, advise the times and places for polling at a mobile polling booth.

        (3a)         The times or places for polling at a mobile polling booth may be altered—

            (a)         —

                  (i)         by the Electoral Commissioner publishing in a newspaper circulating generally throughout the State no later than the day before the day previously fixed for polling at a particular place another notice advising electors of the alteration in polling times at that place, or of the alteration of the place for polling; and

                  (ii)         if it is apparent that the newspaper referred to in subparagraph (i) will not be widely available in the relevant subdivision before the day previously fixed for polling—

                        (A)         by the Electoral Commissioner publishing a further notice advising electors of the alteration in a local newspaper that will circulate in that subdivision before that day; or

                        (B)         if there is no such newspaper—by the Electoral Commissioner taking such steps as are reasonably practicable to notify electors in the particular subdivision of the alteration; or

            (b)         in exceptional circumstances that render compliance with paragraph (a) impracticable—by the presiding officer taking such steps as are reasonably practicable to notify electors in the particular subdivision of the alteration.

        (3b)         Where the times or places for polling at a mobile polling booth in a House of Assembly election are altered, the Electoral Commissioner or presiding officer making the alteration must take reasonable steps to inform candidates standing for election in the particular district of the alteration.

        (4)         Where an election is held in some districts only, it is not necessary to open polling booths in districts in which no election is held.