The Emergency Management (Voting Arrangements) (COVID-19) Direction 2022 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Voting Arrangements No 2) (COVID-19) Direction 2022. This Direction came into effect at 5.32pm on 23 May 2022.
Key changes include:
People who are in COVID-19 isolation or quarantine in their place of residence (not a medi-hotel, COVID-19 Accommodation Support Centre (ASC) or hospital), may leave quarantine in order to post their voting papers for a State election provided they:
- travel directly, without stopping, to a roadside Australia Post box;
- return immediately to their place of quarantine or isolation after posting their voting papers (except if they are authorised to leave quarantine under the Emergency Management (COVID-19 Requirements)(Consolidated Measures) Direction 2022); and
- travel in their car alone or with someone else who is also quarantining at the same location (all people in the car must wear a mask at all times).
For people whom it is impracticable to receive voting papers, or for whom the time to apply for voting papers has passed, can register to have voting papers issued to them personally by an Electoral Officer by calling the ECSA call centre (1300 655 232). They need to:
- provide the Electoral Officer their name, electoral number and enrolled district; and
- maintain a 1.5 metre distance away from the Electoral Officer and wear a mask at all times.
However, leaving quarantine or isolation under this direction does NOT apply to:
- people quarantining or isolating in a medi-hotel, COVID ASC or hospital (see below for their provisions); or
- another person is able to collect their voting papers without entering the premises and post them on the elector’s behalf; or
- people whose isolation or quarantine ends on the day after polling day, as they can still post their vote after that date; or
- people whose isolation or quarantine ends on the day before polling day, as they can attend a polling booth on polling day.
People who are isolating or quarantining in a medi-hotel, COVID Accommodation Support Centre (ASC) or hospital can request voting papers from the Electoral Officer at the medi-hotel, COVID ASC or hospital and return their completed voting papers to the officer in a sealed envelope.
For more information on postal voting, visit: https://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/voting/postal-voting
Other existing requirements remain.
The information above only highlights the key changes made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on weekends and public holidays or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
