ADELAIDE, AAP – Pre-poll voting numbers have doubled and more than 160,000 South Australians have applied for a postal ballot ahead of Saturday’s state election.
Latest figures from the South Australian Electoral Commission show that 135,417 have taken the option of voting early, with people in country seats among the keenest.
Postal vote applications have been lodged by 162,467 people.
Another 4300, who either have COVID-19 or are in isolation as a close contact, have applied to pick up a special voting pack.
Because of the pandemic, arrangements are in place to allow those in quarantine to participate safely.
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People who have been confirmed to be COVID-19 positive or who have gone into isolation will be sent a text message containing a link to register for the voting pack.
They then receive instructions on when and where to collect the pack from a designated virus testing site or rapid antigen test collection centre.
“Electors are able to leave isolation to collect and post their ballot papers so they can exercise their right to vote as part of the approved directions,” Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry said.
Mr Sherry said voters should also feel safe and confident to attend a polling booth on election day with a raft of safety measures in place.
“All polling booths will have socially distanced queues, sanitisation stations, mandatory mask-wearing, single-use pencils, double vaccinated electoral officials and hygiene and density control officers in place,” he said.
There are 1,266,719 voters registered for the 2022 election.
