State Electoral Department, and predecessor agencies (GRG43)

The State Electoral Office (SEO) is headed by the Electoral Commissioner, a statutory appointee and is administratively linked to the Attorney General's Department.

It provides the community with independent electoral services and encouragement to join in the democratic processes of representation. Outputs include election conduct and advice, electoral education and information, research and evaluation of electoral matters, roll management and products, support for parliamentary and council boundary reviews.

In 1907, the Electoral Department was established to conduct SA Parliamentary elections. A project management approach to elections was adopted with effect from the 1989 State Election. For many years until August 1997 the SEO maintained the electoral roll for both State and Federal election events in South Australia under a Joint Rolls Agreement.

Prior to 1907, Sheriff William Boothby with a small staff administered the elections, and he and his staff were known as "Office of the Returning officer for the Province" up until Federation, and "Office of the Returning officer for the State" from 1901. There were returning officers located at each electoral district in the State and Northern Territory. After Federation and then Boothby's death in 1903, it was realised that a centralised department was necessary for roll and electoral districts boundary management.

In 1972 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 while eligibility to vote in a particular electoral district may also change if the boundaries are altered by a review. For many years, electors marked a cross on the ballot paper against the name of the candidate/s they preferred. the 1929 Electoral Act introduced preferential voting (marking a preference for each candidate) for both houses of parliament and later, from 1973, proportional representation counts to fill upper house vacancies.

In 1997 a Joint Rolls Arrangement between the State and the Commonwealth Electoral Offices was signed and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) accepted the responsibility for maintaining the rolls for State, Federal and Local Government elections. The South Australian data was then maintained within the national roll maintenance system (RMANS).

The SEO permits access to the rolls for limited research purposes and has an agreement in place with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to facilitate update and integrity maintenance of the rolls in lieu of 'old style' household visit surveys. The Commonwealth also has arrangements with Australia Post and Centre Link.

Under Section 27A of the Electoral Act 1997, Health, Justice (Sheriff's Office for jury lists and approved branches of the SA Police) and State Superannuation authorities may apply for information about an elector; and State Members of Parliament may seek information on sex, place of birth and age band on electors.

The Commissioner prepares a report to be tabled in Parliament after each State general election and Local Government periodic election. The Commissioner also publishes a statistical return after each general election. These publications encapsulate information from a range of sources including comment from and formal surveys of Returning Officers.

The Chief Executive Officer, the Electoral Commissioner, is appointed by the governor following a resolution and recommendation by both Houses of Parliament. The Commissioner cannot be directed by government in the exercise of statutory duties under administered legislation but is required to comply with a range of legislation. The Commissioner is the nominated service provider for - Parliamentary elections, council elections for the City of Adelaide, the election of members to the Nurses Board, election of a member to the Superannuation Funds Management Corporation, election of two members to the Superannuation Board, industrial ballots at the behest of the organisation engaging SEO services and polls conducted in compliance with legislation.

The Commissioner is the Returning Officer for all Local Government elections and polls. (Reference: RDS 2001/35 of 08.07.2002 prepared by Mr George Smith).
Prior to 1975 electoral redistributions were conducted by Redistribution Committees and later by Commissions that followed guidelines set down by the government of the day. Their proposals could then be refused or accepted by the parliament and the Redistribution Committee or Commission desolved (Reference: State Electoral Office South Australia Annual Report 1998/99 page 1, contained in RDS 2001/35). The Commissioner and the Surveyor-General are sitting members of the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission (established under the Constitution Act Amendment Act 1975) which is chaired by the most senior judge of the Supreme Court.

Redistribution orders of the Commission have an independent force and validity. Political parties may seek registration with the Commissioner under the provisions of the 1985 Electoral Act.

Applications for registration are made in writing accompanied by a copy of their constitution, and are advertised to permit objection before registration. A party may be de-registered by the Commissioner.

In 1998 the Electoral Education Centre was opened to be run in conjunction with the Australian Electoral Commission.

The Electoral office is one of the smallest government agencies employing around 20 permanent staff, though during State elections the workforce increases to approximately 5000 personnel.

Same agency as GA1196 - different archival control system.