{"id":554280,"date":"2026-03-21T05:18:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T05:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/554280\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T05:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T05:18:32","slug":"polls-open-for-south-australias-2026-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/554280\/","title":{"rendered":"Polls open for South Australia’s 2026 election"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Australians are heading to the polls today for the 2026 state election, where One Nation could threaten the Liberal Party’s status as the official opposition and Labor is expected to win a landslide victory.<\/p>\n

Polling booths open at 8am as candidates make their last pitches to constituents in their electorates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

SA Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry says a record number of South Australians had voted early this year. (ABC News: Carl Saville)<\/p>\n

A record number of South Australians \u2014 454,800 \u2014 have already made their decisions since early voting opened last Saturday, according to the Electoral Commission of SA (ECSA).<\/p>\n

“To put that into comparison, four years ago at the last state election, the total number of people who voted early was 212,000, so more than double have already voted,” commissioner Mick Sherry told ABC Radio Adelaide on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

He described the figure as an “incredible number” that “exceeded our expectations”.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Leo Tessari helps serve up an age-old election day tradition of democracy sausages at a polling centre at Redwood Park to support the local footy club.\u00a0 (ABC News: Will Hunter)<\/p>\n

This year’s election is the first time voters did not need to provide a reason for early voting, and the early voting period was also reduced to one week.<\/p>\n

Mr Sherry said it was “new territory” for ECSA.<\/p>\n

“We knew it would be popular \u2014 people are looking for more convenient, accessible voting options \u2014 but it did exceed our expectations,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A record number of South Australians voted early. (ABC News: Trent Murphy)<\/p>\n

“Operationally, we’ve had to print a lot more ballot papers, we’ve had to put more staff on.<\/p>\n

“It will add impacts when we count these early votes from 6pm tonight because of the huge numbers and, in some cases, some of the districts have a large number of candidates.”<\/p>\n

He also said there had been record numbers of postal vote applications this year.<\/p>\n

Mr Sherry said while ECSA had brought “a lot more extra people in for this election”, finding staff had been a challenge and a couple of polling booths had to be merged in Whyalla due to “late withdrawals of staffing”.<\/p>\n

“It has been a bit of a struggle to get polling officials; there have been some last-minute withdrawals, so we’ve had to put contingencies in place to resource our polling places,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

People wait to vote at Monash Memorial Hall, in South Australia’s Riverland, on election day. (ABC News: Eliza Berlage)<\/p>\n

ECSA had posted on social media that polling booths at Hincks Avenue Primary School and Fisk Street Primary School in Whyalla Norrie would not open as planned today, <\/a>along with the booth at Willsden Primary School in Port Augusta.<\/p>\n

Mr Sherry said there would be 600 polling places open across South Australia today, and the busiest time was usually in the morning.<\/p>\n

“We find in the morning, between 8 and 11, people traditionally vote, and that’s when you get the majority of people voting. In the afternoon, it’s quiet. No-one’s around. So if you want to avoid the queues, maybe think about voting in the afternoon,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Voters queue to vote at Woodville Gardens School in Adelaide’s north-west on Saturday morning. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)<\/p>\n

Leaders cast their votes<\/p>\n

Premier Peter Malinauskas lined up to cast his ballot in Woodville Gardens, in Adelaide’s north-west, on Saturday morning, and highlighted his gratitude for the democratic process.<\/p>\n

“That we do live in a really peaceful country where we can have differences but respect everyone’s position with integrity and mutual respect and hopefully even some compassion,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Malinauskas said if re-elected, his top priority would be to make sure the state’s economy “continues to head in the right direction”.<\/p>\n

“Making sure that economic growth delivers better living standards, and that, of course, I think means houses are central to that equation,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I think we need to get a lot more housing stock to continue to be built in South Australia, maintaining the momentum we’ve already achieved because if we build more homes, we’re providing more opportunities for more families to be able to put a roof over their heads and enjoy living in one of the best cities and states anywhere in the world.”<\/p>\n

When asked about One Nation’s potential in today’s election, Mr Malinauskas said he would wait for the results.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Peter Malinauskas (right) lined up with his family to vote this morning in Woodville Gardens. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke\u00a0)<\/p>\n

“I hope whoever is in parliament following today’s results tries to make sure we work with one another even where there are clear ideological differences,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I clearly have different political views to others in the parliament, but that shouldn’t stop us from being able to work together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Let’s wait and see what the shape of the parliament is tonight, and I hope that it’s a parliament that just does good for the state.”<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Peter Malinauskas and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cooking sausages at a polling booth in Hectorville, in Adelaide’s east. (ABC News: Sophie Holder)<\/p>\n

Speaking to the media after she cast her ballot in the Barossa Valley town of Angaston early on Saturday morning, Liberal leader Ashton Hurn said she had “really enjoyed this election campaign”.<\/p>\n

“I’ve loved every single moment of getting out and speaking to South Australians from all corners of the state about a whole range of issues,” she said.<\/p>\n

“And one thing that’s really shone through is that South Australians just want a government that is focused on getting those bread-and-butter issues right for them.<\/p>\n

“And I’m really proud of the fact that the policy platform that we’re putting forward is all about putting those basics right.<\/p>\n

“Be that 50-cent fares<\/a>, be that our stamp duty reforms<\/a>, be that payroll tax changes \u2014 a whole host of really commonsense policies that are fantastic for the people of South Australia.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ashton Hurn cast her vote in Angaston, in her electorate of Schubert, with her son Rupert. (ABC News)<\/p>\n

Despite recent polling predictions<\/a>, Ms Hurn said she was “a naturally optimistic person” and would “keep fighting right up until 6pm”.<\/p>\n

Ms Hurn congratulated candidates “who have put themselves forward from right across the political divide”.<\/p>\n

“It’s a big thing to put yourself forward to represent your community and ultimately represent your state,” she said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Ashton Hurn cast her vote with son Rupert at a polling booth in Angaston. (ABC News: Briana Fiore)<\/p>\n

When pressed about One Nation, Ms Hurn said there was “no doubt that a vote for One Nation would deliver chaos for South Australia” and that it was a “Queensland-based party”.<\/p>\n

“At the end of the day, I can appreciate that some people are feeling frustrated with politics, and that’s fine, but you’ve got to vote for a team that can actually have the capacity to deliver for you,” she said.<\/p>\n

“And if I could ask a question, who is One Nation’s leader in the lower house? Who would be premier in South Australia should One Nation get enough seats? The answer is no-one.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

People queue early on Saturday morning to vote in Adelaide’s north-west. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)<\/p>\n

Greens SA leader Robert Simms voted in Unley on Saturday morning and said he was feeling “really positive”.<\/p>\n

“Being out on polling booths this morning, there’s a lot of momentum for the Greens,” he said.<\/p>\n

He said he had been hearing from voters that they wanted a party that could hold the government to account.<\/p>\n

“The Greens have a good track record of doing that,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Simms pointed out that the election fell on Harmony Day and said he hoped voters “reject the politics of hate and division and vote for hope, and that’s what the Greens are offering during this election”.<\/p>\n

Mr Simms also said there was a lot of concern around cost of living and the Greens were “offering real solutions there”, saying the party had plans for reducing public transport fares, capping rent prices, and taking action on the environment \u2014 citing the algal bloom as a key issue for voters.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Robert Simms says he’s feeling “really positive”. (ABC News)<\/p>\n

South Australian One Nation lead candidate Cory Bernardi said he was “optimistic about tonight” and today was a “celebration of democracy”.<\/p>\n

Mr Bernardi said “a lot of people” felt “let down” by the major parties and were “open to alternatives”.<\/p>\n

He said he believed One Nation had the “potential to be a major force and a shake-up in politics in this country”.<\/p>\n

“If we get a large enough vote, it’s impossible for the major parties … to ignore it,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Bernardi said if elected, One Nation “will go in and fight as hard as we possibly can for the issues that matter to South Australians”.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Cory Bernardi says he is feeling optimistic about tonight. (ABC News)<\/p>\n

Final week of the campaign<\/p>\n

A final Newspoll published in The Australian on Friday<\/a> still placed primary support for the Liberals below One Nation.<\/p>\n

In the final week of the campaign, Labor promised more savings for families with children, and investment in trade training and sports infrastructure as they batted away questions over public health advice on the algal bloom crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SA election promise tracker<\/a><\/p>\n

We’ve gone through the major parties’ promises ahead of the state election so you can compare what they have announced for you.<\/p>\n

An expansion of the Royal Adelaide Hospital was among Liberal pledges this week, but in a press conference they were forced to defend dismal projections by opinion polls<\/a> and a “regrettable” flyer blunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both major parties also clashed over the Liberal Party’s costings<\/a>, with Labor saying the opposition’s promises will cost $2.4 billion more than what they have said.<\/p>\n

The Liberal Party said it only committed $3.4 billion, which will be partially offset by not filling 4,000 non-frontline public sector jobs when they become vacant.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The electoral commissioner says the number of South Australians who voted early had doubled compared to the last state election. (ABC News: Trent Murphy)<\/p>\n

While One Nation did not release any costings of its policies, the party dominated headlines this week with further polls showing a surge in its popularity <\/a>amid federal leader Pauline Hanson’s whistlestop tour around the state in a plane operated by a company owned by mining magnate Gina Rinehart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This weekend’s state election is the first since laws banning private donations to political parties were introduced<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Its SA lead candidate, Cory Bernardi, who was also on these trips, said the flights were not an in-kind political donation and that he would pay them back.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Ms Hanson confronted the premier over comments he made last month asking One Nation voters<\/a>: “Who’s going to feed you and bathe you and wipe your bum when you’re 90?”<\/p>\n

On Friday, the ABC revealed South Australian One Nation candidate Aoi Baxter has a warrant for his arrest in the UK<\/a> for failing to show up to court after he was charged with an alleged sexual offence.<\/p>\n

Mr Baxter’s profile was subsequently removed from One Nation’s website.<\/p>\n

Polls predict easy Labor win in SA election, but One Nation results will be closely watched<\/a><\/p>\n

Both polls and pundits are expecting Labor to comfortably win today’s election, but political watchers around the country are keen to see how One Nation performs in the ballot.<\/p>\n

The SA election has been widely interpreted as a litmus test for One Nation<\/a>, but as Mr Bernardi cautioned, political success is measured in seats in parliament<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This election saw a record 388 candidates contesting House of Assembly seats<\/a>, much higher than the 240 candidates that contested the 2022 election.<\/p>\n

But the upper house race is the one to watch<\/a>, with minor parties and independents fighting over a small number of seats, risking a split in votes for the conservative side of politics.<\/p>\n

As polls close at 6pm and counting begins, the results will be closely watched around the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"South Australians are heading to the polls today for the 2026 state election, where One Nation could threaten…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":554281,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[64,63,231054,4268,231053,1788,4273,44,60504,33075,273897,1124,2177,19400],"class_list":["post-554280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-ecsa","tag-election","tag-electoral-commission","tag-labor","tag-liberal","tag-news","tag-one-nation","tag-polls","tag-polls-open","tag-south-australia","tag-state","tag-voting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=554280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/554281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=554280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=554280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=554280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}