Key Takeaways
- More than 600 ballot papers were discovered uncounted after the South Australian state election, including 77 absent ordinary ballots and four declaration ballots from the neighbouring Stuart district.
- The discovery affects the closely contested seat of Narungga, where One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas won by just 58 votes (0.1 % margin).
- The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) has ordered a fresh count for Narungga only, to determine whether the omitted ballots would have altered the result.
- If the new count shows a different outcome, ECSA may seek legal advice to petition the Court of Disputed Returns.
- Liberal leader Ashton Hurn and candidate Tania Stock have called for greater transparency, noting that Stock claimed she was not officially notified of the discovery.
- Deputy Premier Kyam Maher defended the overall integrity of the election but agreed an independent review would be commissioned.
- The cause of the counting error has not yet been investigated, though the uncounted ballots are believed to have originated from the Port Pirie early voting centre.
Background of the Uncounted Ballots
The Electoral Commission of South Australia announced on April 3 that it had located more than 600 ballot papers that had not been included in the original tally of the March 21 state election. The ballots were found in three sealed boxes returned to the commission’s office after polling day. Acting Commissioner Leah McLay explained that the papers represented votes from various electorates across the state, but only those affecting the Narungga seat would trigger a further count because of its extraordinarily narrow margin. The revelation came after the initial count and a subsequent recount had already declared One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas the winner in Narungga.
Discovery and Composition of the Ballots
Of the 642 uncounted votes identified, 77 were classified as absent ordinary ballot papers that had never been opened, while four were declaration ballot papers that had been mistakenly returned to the Stuart district instead of Narungga. The remaining ballots corresponded to other electorates but were deemed insufficient to affect any other race given their larger margins. McLay stressed that the boxes had remained sealed since election day, which is why the oversight was not detected during the initial processing stages. The commission has not yet examined how the ballots came to be misplaced or why they were not opened alongside the rest of the absentee votes.
Impact on the Narungga Seat
Narungga, a rural seat on the Yorke Peninsula, was declared for One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas after a razor‑thin victory over Liberal candidate Tania Stock. Thomas secured the seat by 58 votes, representing a margin of just 0.1 % of the total votes cast. This slim difference meant that even a modest number of additional votes could potentially overturn the result. The 77 absent ordinary ballots alone exceed the winning margin, and when combined with the four declaration papers, they represent a total of 81 votes—more than enough to change the outcome if they predominantly favor one candidate.
Decision to Conduct a Further Count
In response to the discovery, ECSA announced that a fresh count would be conducted exclusively for the Narungga electorate. McLay clarified that the purpose of the recount is not to overturn the already declared result but to ascertain whether the inclusion of the previously omitted ballots would have produced a different outcome. The count is scheduled for Friday, April 5, and will be carried out under the same procedural safeguards used in the original count and recount, including the presence of scrutineers from each contesting party.
Procedures and Legal Implications
Should the new count reveal that the result would have changed had the ballots been counted initially, ECSA stated it would seek legal advice regarding the possibility of petitioning the Court of Disputed Returns. The Court of Disputed Returns has the authority to hear challenges to election results and can order a new election or amend the declared outcome if irregularities are proven. McLay emphasized that any legal step would be taken only after the fresh count is completed and its implications fully assessed, ensuring that the commission acts on concrete evidence rather than speculation.
Reactions from Political Parties
Liberal leader Ashton Hurn told 891 ABC Adelaide that the commission “has some explaining to do,” although he acknowledged that the fresh count was unlikely to alter the Narungga result. Hurn urged ECSA to provide clarity quickly to maintain public confidence in the electoral process. Conversely, One Nation has welcomed the commission’s transparency, reiterating its commitment to accepting whatever outcome the proper procedures yield. The party’s spokesperson noted that the discovery underscores the importance of rigorous ballot‑handling protocols, especially in tightly contested seats.
Liberal Candidate’s Concerns
Tania Stock, the Liberal candidate who lost Narungga by 58 votes, said she had not received any official notification from ECSA about the newly found ballots and first learned of the issue when contacted by the ABC. Stock expressed unease that boxes might have been opened and votes tallied without scrutineers present, a procedural safeguard designed to prevent tampering or error. She called for a full explanation of where the ballots originated, how they were missed, and assurances that any future count would be conducted with scrupulous adherence to electoral law, including the presence of party representatives throughout the process.
Government and Electoral Commission Response
Deputy Premier and Special Minister of State Kyam Maher remarked that while the discovery understandably raises concerns, there is no reason to doubt the overall fairness of South Australia’s elections, which have historically been regarded as free and transparent. Maher announced that the government would commission an independent review of the election’s administration, complementing ECSA’s own post‑election review. He urged the public to await the outcome of the fresh count before drawing conclusions, emphasizing that the institutional checks in place are designed to catch and correct such oversights.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The discovery of over 600 uncounted ballot papers has placed a spotlight on the ballot‑handling procedures of the Electoral Commission of South Australia, particularly in the ultra‑marginal Narungga seat. A targeted recount scheduled for Friday will determine whether the omitted votes could have altered the election’s outcome, with potential legal ramifications if a discrepancy is found. Political leaders from both major parties have called for transparency and rigorous adherence to scrutineered counting practices, while the government has pledged an independent examination to safeguard public trust. As the process unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring that every legitimate vote is counted accurately and that the integrity of South Australia’s democratic institutions is upheld.