More than 30 polling booths will open across South Australia today for the state’s inaugural First Nations Voice to Parliament election.

The SA Electoral Commission estimates about 30,000 First Nations people are eligible to vote in the election — the first since SA’s Parliament passed legislation last year to establish the advisory body. 

Voting is voluntary and only open to enrolled First Nations voters.

First Nations people have until 6pm today to vote for 113 candidates who have put their hands up to fill 46 seats across six local Voice regions.

Electoral officers set up a polling booth at Yalata.(ABC News: Stephanie Richards)

Seven people will be elected to represent each region across the state, except in the Central Adelaide region, which will have 11 members.

One male and one female presiding member from each local Voice will then be appointed to the state Voice.

The inaugural Voice will run for two years, before new elections in 2026 bring it in line with the state’s four-year general election terms.

SA Voice to give advice to SA Parliament and government

Once elected, the SA Voice would be able to speak at the second reading stage of any bill before SA Parliament.

It would also have regular meetings with the SA government on issues which impact First Nations people.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher said the election is an important day.

“We have the very first elections for the South Australian First Nations Voice, there will be dozens of polling stations from Ceduna, Coober Pedy and points in between for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a say and elect representatives who will make representations to all levels of government for their communities,” he said.

Kyam Maher with South Australia’s Commissioner for First Nations Voice, Dale Agius.(ABC News: Ethan Rix)

“The Electoral Commission reports there has been a steady stream in early voting.

“This is the first time we’ve done something like this anywhere in Australia, so being the first time we need to expect there will be a reasonable turnout but acknowledging that it will be improved upon in subsequent years, and of course there is a lot of, I think, fatigue in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people after the [national] referendum last year,” said Mr Maher.

The SA Voice election is being held just four months after more than 64 per cent of South Australians voted No at the October referendum to enshrine a federal Voice in the Constitution.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas speaks outside Parliament House in Adelaide after the passage of the historic First Nations Voice to Parliament legislation during a special sitting of parliament on March 26, 2023.(ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

Unlike the failed federal proposal, the SA Voice is not enshrined in the state’s constitution. Instead, it was created by passing legislation through parliament. 

That means the broader South Australian public did not vote on whether or not the body should exist, and it could be changed or abolished by future governments.

Results to be declared from March 25

While voting closes at 6pm today, the SA Electoral Commission will not begin counting until March 25 to allow for the return of postal votes from rural and remote communities.

The commission states counting could continue into early April following the Easter break.

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