Count Schedule
Scrutiny and count will commence on Monday 30 March 2026, where all postal votes will be received.
Provisional declaration will be made at the completion of each count (which may take up to two weeks) and the results will be certified 48 hours after provisional declaration.
Is this election different from the National Voice Referendum?
Yes – the South Australian (SA) First Nations Voice to Parliament was established after the First Nations Voice Act passed through State Parliament in March 2023. This process was separate from the federal referendum in October 2023 that proposed enshrining a National Voice in the Australian Constitution.
Who can vote?
To be eligible to vote in the SA First Nations Voice Election, you must be:
- An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; and
- 18 years or older; and
- On the electoral roll.
Note: Eligible voters can only vote once, and it must be for the region in which they are enrolled.
Do I need to bring any proof of Aboriginality?
No – voters do not need to bring any proof of Aboriginality to the polling booth.
However, to receive their ballot paper for the SA First Nations Voice Election, a voter must sign a declaration that they are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.
Important: It is an offence to knowingly sign a false declaration under the First Nations Voice Act 2023.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 4 years.
How to vote
To receive a ballot paper for the SA First Nations Voice Election, you must:
- Attend the declaration table
- Tell the officer that you would like to vote in the SA First Nations Voice Election
- Sign a declaration confirming that you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
Electoral officers at the declaration table will be wearing branded bibs.
Watch the following video for more information on how to vote.
Explainer F How To Vote 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/5VtmmBTbexE
Explainer F How To Vote 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/yatGVUuPnas
I am eligible, but do I have to vote?
Voting in the SA First Nations Voice Election is not compulsory.
However, voting in the 2026 State Election is compulsory.
What are the regions?
In conducting the SA First Nations Voice Election, South Australia is divided into six regions. Each region elects representatives to form their own Local First Nations Voice. The regions can be viewed via the interactive map ECSA South Australian Electoral Map
How many members will get elected?
Each region will elect a specified number of members and has positions that are reserved for males only, females only, and one position for a person of any gender (male, female, or any other gender).
Refer to the table below for the structure of each Local First Nations Voice.
|
Region |
Male Positions |
Female Positions |
Any Gender |
Total Members |
|
Region 1 - Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi (Central) |
5 |
5 |
1 |
11 |
|
Region 2 - Far North |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Region 3 - Flinders and Upper North |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Region 4 - Murraylands, Riverland and South East |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Region 5 - West and West Coast |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Region 6 - Yorke and Mid North |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
How long are members of a Local First Nations Voice elected for?
Candidates that are successfully elected to a Local First Nations Voice serve a term of four years.
When will results be known?
Counts cannot commence until all votes have been returned from across the State (including postal votes).
This means that counts will begin from Monday 30 March 2026. These counts may take up to two weeks to complete.
Results will then be announced progressively via the website.
Why are there no females on my ballot paper?
For Region 5: West and West Coast and Region 6: Yorke and Mid North, the number of accepted female candidates was not more than the number of reserved female positions.
Therefore, those female candidates were declared elected on 24 February 2026.
See the elected female members for Region 5 and Region 6 via the following links:
Candidates Region 5: West and West Coast
Candidates Region 6: Yorke and Mid North
How does the SA First Nations Voice operate?
The SA First Nations Voice is a representative, elected body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is an advisory body and does not have veto or decision-making powers in South Australia’s Parliament. It allows the opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to raise community interests in a public, transparent, and accountable way. The SA First Nations Voice is composed of two levels:
- The Local First Nations Voices – an elected body of members that represent each of the six regions of South Australia.
- The State First Nations Voice – a group consisting of two chosen members from each Local First Nations Voice.
I want to provide feedback
You are welcome to provide feedback about the service you have received from us or our products. For more information go to: https://ecsa.sa.gov.au/feedback-and-complaints
Explainer FAQ Videos
Explainer A What Is the SA Voice to Parliament 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/dqHlhtDHRbI
Explainer A What Is the SA Voice to Parliament 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/W26d1XssG6A
Explainer C How to Enrol 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/zDbcOr-spaw
Explainer C How to Enrol 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/lejp9nWrHWw
Explainer D How to Nominate 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/0DGiaXN8EvE
Explainer D How to Nominate 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/GwabRmJFxUA
Explainer E Vote Options 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/IhQSGa5rHOM
Explainer E Vote Options 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/ovcgvm8XM4M
Explainer F How To Vote 2026 (English version)
https://youtu.be/5VtmmBTbexE
Explainer F How To Vote 2026 (Pitjantjatjara version)
https://youtu.be/yatGVUuPnas
