Date: 16 June 2026

Elections deferred by 5 months; Electoral Commissioner to resign

The South Australian Government has announced it will introduce urgent legislation this week to defer the 2026 periodic local government elections by five months, following formal concerns raised by the Acting Electoral Commissioner about the Electoral Commission of South Australia’s (ECSA) capacity to deliver a credible election.

In advice to the Government, the Acting Electoral Commissioner identified that inadequate frameworks, processes, and documentation had resulted in planning and delivery activities occurring simultaneously during the 2026 state election. She expressed serious concern that similar risks would affect the upcoming council elections, compounded by difficulties in retaining and recruiting sufficient staff. Independent reviewer of the 2026 South Australian Elections, Tom Rogers AO, echoed those concerns.

Under the proposed Bill, the polling day for local government elections would move from Wednesday 11 November 2026 to Wednesday 7 April 2027. The April date was chosen following feedback from the Local Government Association, to allow councils sufficient time to complete their budget processes before the end of the 2026–27 financial year.

The legislation would also deliver a longstanding objective of both the Local Government Association and ECSA — separating council elections from state election years. Subsequent elections would be held every four years from 2031, with polling day returning to November.

In a related development, Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry has written to the Governor advising he will resign, effective 24 July 2026. Deputy Electoral Commissioner Leah McLay will continue as Acting Electoral Commissioner following his departure. The appointment of a new Commissioner is a matter for Parliament, under the process set out in the Electoral Act 1985.

The full media release is available on the Office of the Premier of South Australia website.