South Australians have the chance to shape major reforms as the State Government looks to tackle consistently low engagement in local government elections.
Launching today, as part of the State Government’s Local Government Participation and Elections Review, Minister for Local Government Geoff Brock is seeking feedback from South Australians on several bold and innovative ideas, including the possibility of compulsory voting.
Council elections hold a unique place in South Australia’s democratic system, allowing residents to choose who represents them and makes decisions on their behalf about local services, facilities, and rates.
Residents should be choosing who they vote for from as wide a selection of candidates as possible because councils that reflect the diversity of their communities are better able to make decisions and provide meaningful services.
However, council elections often struggle to attract enough candidates to fill vacancies. For example, at the most recent 2022 elections, 93 positions were filled without an election even being held.
Disappointingly, 16 vacancies across 10 council areas did not receive enough nominations meaning that supplementary elections had to be held earlier this year to fill these roles.
And despite the ease provided by postal voting, which was introduced in 1997, voter turnout has consistently remained at about 33 per cent. This means about two-thirds of eligible voters are choosing not to exercise their right to have a say.
The discussion paper puts forward some challenging ideas for discussion, like compulsory voting, term limits for elected members, removal of council wards and possible boundary changes where councils don’t receive enough nominations at election time.
All South Australians are invited to provide their feedback and recommendations until consultation closes on Thursday 29 February 2024.
Read the Local Government Participation and Elections Review discussion paper and submit feedback, at https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/council-participation-elections.
After each periodic council election, the Electoral Commissioner conducts a comprehensive review to ensure that elections are transparent, fair and maintain the highest standard of integrity. Any recommendations the Commissioner may make will also be incorporated into this review.
As put by Geoff Brock
Local democracy is often described as the sphere of government ‘closest to the people’, yet the people of South Australia are consistently choosing not to exercise their right to have a say when it comes to council elections.
The Discussion Paper poses some bold ideas, that might be challenging or even controversial, but I firmly believe that it is time for us to take real action to better connect people to their councils, to get serious about tackling the persistently low voter turnout we see every four years at council election time.
I want the ideas I have put forward to generate serious debate about the future of our local government. My goal is to create a more inclusive, representative, and participatory local government system that truly reflects the voices and aspirations of South Australia’s diverse communities.
The input of community members, stakeholders and experts is invaluable as we embark on this vital process, and I urge everyone to take 15 minutes out of their day and provide their feedback. Your insights, suggestions, and concerns are crucial as we work towards strengthening our democratic foundations.
As put by LGA President, Mayor Dean Johnson
Council elected members play a vital role in representing and serving the interests of their community – helping to shape our suburbs and regions into vibrant, thriving spaces.
Following last year’s elections, we have been working closely with the State Government to undertake a review of the local democratic process and constructively look at ways to improve participation in local government.
For many years, we’ve seen voting in local government elections linger at around 33 per cent, which means a big portion of the community is unheard in the elections process.
We will be engaging with all South Australian councils on this process and welcome the chance to listen to the community on their thoughts to boost voter turnout, encourage more people to stand for council and improve the elections process overall.
As the most accessible level of government for South Australians, we want to hear different ideas and weigh up their merits – from compulsory voting, the timing of elections to the process for nominations, everyone’s perspective matters.
