RESEARCH SERIES
RETURNING OFFICERS
AND
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
1851 – 2015
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the data contained in this report. The
Electoral Commission of South Australia would appreciate advice of any necessary
corrections.
This paper does not examine changes to the number and boundaries of electoral districts
over time which had an impact on the number of Returning Officers appointed.
First Published as Returning Officers and their responsibilities 1851-2008
Updated as Returning Officers and their responsibilities 1851-2011
Updated as Returning Officers and their responsibilities 1851-2015
Electoral Commission SA
Level 6, 60 Light Square, Adelaide | GPO Box 646, Adelaide SA 5001
p 1300 655 232 f 08 7424 7444 e [email protected]
w www.ecsa.sa.gov.au
March 2008
September 2011
June 2016
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1
Returning Officer appointments ................................................................................. 1
William Robinson Boothby ......................................................................................... 3
Returning Officer responsibilities ............................................................................... 6
Roll management ...................................................................................................... 6
Pre-election duties..................................................................................................... 7
Nominations to polling day ........................................................................................ 8
Polling day duties ...................................................................................................... 9
Post polling day duties............................................................................................... 9
Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 10
The position and role of Returning Officers 1857 compared to 2015 ....................... 11
District listing – Legislative Council Returning Officers 1851 – 2015 ........................ 13
District listing – House of Assembly Returning Officers 1857 – 2015 ....................... 15
Glossary .................................................................................................................. 31
Sources ................................................................................................................... 32
Introduction
A Returning Officer is the appointed official in charge of an election in a particular
electorate.1
The Electoral Commission of South Australian (ECSA) is required by legislation to conduct
parliamentary elections every four years. The Electoral Commissioner, appointed by the
Governor after a resolution and recommendation of both houses of Parliament, is
responsible for the conduct of these elections. The Commissioner appoints a Returning
Officer (RO) to manage the election for the multi-member upper house, the Legislative
Council (LC), and the 47 lower house or House of Assembly (HA) districts. The House of
Assembly Returning Officer also acts as a deputy Returning Officer for the corresponding LC
division.
The Returning Officers’ management of electoral operations in their appointed HA district
includes the planning and provision of facilities, deployment of staff, candidate liaison,
coordination of voting schedules for remote areas and electors in care, ballot paper
allocations and control of the conduct of voting for both houses on election day. After the
completion of voting, the Returning Officers’ responsibilities include overseeing the counting
of the votes and the declaration of the poll.
Returning Officers must be able to demonstrate people, resource management, computer
and organisational skills, be aware of equal opportunity and occupational health and safety
rules and legislation and respond to public and media queries. Gender is no longer a
determining factor in appointing Returning Officers, unlike in 1851, when the first elections for
a Legislative Council were held. Today, Returning Officers are subject to constraints set out
in the Electoral Act and comply with a code of conduct to which all electoral employees must
adhere.
Returning Officer appointments
The first South Australian legislation referring to Returning Officers was in 1851 – Ordinance
No. 1.2 There was no Chief Officer or State Returning Officer as in later years. All electoral
duties at that time were performed by individual Returning Officers for each district.
The Returning Officers were appointed by the Governor and were required to sign and make
a formal declaration before a Justice of the Peace:
I, …………. do hereby declare that I accept the office of …………………. and I do
hereby promise and declare that I will faithfully perform the duties of the same, to the
best of my understanding and ability (and that I will not reveal or disclose any
knowledge that I may acquire in the discharge of my said office touching the vote of
any elector – added under Act No.10 of 1855-56).3
Returning Officers were required to be eligible electors; consequently all Returning Officers
were male at that point, as the franchise for nearly 50 years was restricted to males. Whether
1
2
3
The Collins Australian Dictionary of Political Terms, 1994, p.185.
Ordinance No. 1 1851, s IV p 3 (SA)
Ordinance No. 1 1851, s LXI p 21 (SA)
1
women would have been considered a ‘fit and proper person’ is also debateable.4 It was not
until over 100 years later that women were appointed as Returning Officers. The first two
female Returning Officers in South Australia were Patricia Milln and Edith ‘Claire’ Cox.
Patricia Milln was first appointed as Returning Officer for the District of Fisher and
subsequently for the district of Heysen in 1985. Shortly after Patricia Milln’s appointment,
Edith ‘Claire’ Cox was appointed to the district of Playford. There was no set timeframe for
appointment as a Returning Officer and the position was held ‘good and valid’ until it was
cancelled.
However, one provision that has not changed is that Returning Officers may not be a
candidate for office nor, since the introduction of political parties, a member of a political
party or hold an official position within a political party. From 1851 to 1975, 19 people who
were Returning Officers nominated as candidates, consequently losing their position as
Returning Officer; 14 people who nominated as candidates later became Returning Officers.
Electoral Code 1908 gave the Governor responsibility for appointing a Returning Officer for
the entire State and a Deputy Returning Officer to act in their absence.5 District Returning
Officers were to be appointed by the responsible Minister, the Attorney-General, on advice of
the Returning Officer for the State.6
In 1973, section 6 of the 1929 Electoral Act was repealed and the following was inserted:
6. (1) The Governor may, subject to this Act, by notice published in the Gazette appoint a
person to be the Electoral Commissioner.7 As a consequence the position previously called
‘Returning Officer for the State’ now became known as the Electoral Commissioner. A
legislative change in 1997 required any vacancy in the office of Electoral Commissioner to be
referred to the Parliamentary Statutory Officers Committee. Both houses of Parliament are to
recommend an appointment to be confirmed by the Governor.8
The ‘Deputy’ Chief Electoral Officer was retitled Assistant Returning Officer for the State in
1972, Principal Returning Officer in 1973 and Deputy Electoral Commissioner in 1976.9 The
appointment of Returning Officers for each district became the responsibility of the Electoral
Commissioner in 1985.10 Appointments are made on merit from both the public and private
sectors.
Payment was minimal for Returning Officers in 1851 and the candidates paid for such
services at a rate of two guineas per day.11 From 1853, payment to Returning Officers was
made out of general public revenue.12 Over time the payment of Returning Officers increased
and in 1885 they were receiving an annual payment of £25.13 100 years later, the legislation
was changed and under the 1985 Electoral Act, all staff (Returning Officers, polling officials,
etc) are paid according to a scale of fees and allowances fixed from time to time by the
Minister.14
4
Act No. 10 1855-56, s 3 p 56 (SA)
Act No. 971 1908, s 24 & 25 p 6-7 (SA)
6
Act No. 971 1908, s 27 p 7 (SA)
7
Act No. 49 1973, s 4 p 177 (SA)
8
Act No. 22 1997 s5 (SA)
9
Act No. 136 1972 s 4, Act No. 49 1973 s 4 & Act No. 114 1976 ss 5-10 (SA)
10
Act No. 77 1985, s 16 p 8 (SA)
11
Act No. 1 1851, s LV p 19 (SA)
12
Act No. 2 1853, s11 p 6 (SA)
13
Act No. 352 1885, Schedule p 3 (SA)
14
Act No. 77 1985, s 12 p 7 (SA)
5
2
Holding the position of Returning Officer was regarded as an important responsibility within
the community and penalties were imposed for misconduct, such as a fine of between £10
and £200 for each offence of neglecting or refusing to perform duties.15 Similar penalties
occur today although at a higher figure of up to $2500 or 6 months imprisonment.16
Today Returning Officers are appointed on merit, have management skills and administrative
experience and are expected to acquire an understanding of electoral processes. Returning
Officers also need to be technologically versant and able to respond to public and media
queries. Job and person specifications outline essential and desirable characteristics and
knowledge, to enable appointments to be based on agreed understandings and experience.
Following their appointment they receive comprehensive training from ECSA.
William Robinson Boothby
An early Returning Officer and an important figure with regard to establishing and
progressively reforming the electoral framework was William Robinson Boothby. He played a
significant role in developing the Electoral Act of 1856, enacted 2 April, which set out the
mechanisms for electing the first bicameral parliament.
Boothby was born in England on 26 September 1829, the eldest son of 15 children. In 1853
he and his family, parents and siblings, migrated to Australia. At age 25, one year after
arriving in Australia, he entered the South Australian civil service as a deputy sheriff. He was
promoted at age 26 to Sheriff and held this position until 1903.17
In 1855, Boothby was appointed as Returning Officer for the Legislative Council district of
West Torrens18. In 1856, he became the first Returning Officer for the Province of South
Australia with responsibility for the Legislative Council elections for a bicameral parliament.19
It was then that Boothby began his pioneering work into the secret ballot, the design of the
ballot paper and how it was to be marked. This is regarded as his most memorable work.20
Prior to the first elections for a bicameral parliament in 1857, elections were based on the
voice of the electors and anonymity did not exist. The first Electoral Act of 1851 for a single
legislature, the Legislative Council, stipulated that on the day of nomination, which was also
the day of election, the Returning Officer was to hold a meeting at 12 noon to receive
nominations. If only one candidate nominated, the Returning Officer was to declare that
person duly elected. In the event of there being more than one candidate, the Returning
Officer was to call for a show of hands separately for each candidate and then declare the
candidate with the most support duly elected. This completed the election process, unless a
poll was demanded by some of the candidates or by not less than 6 electors on their behalf.
The Returning Officer was then to conduct the poll at the different polling places within the
district on the day instructed in the writ from the Governor.21
15
Ordinance No. 1 1851, s LXII p 21 (SA)
Act No. 22 1997, Schedule 1 s 10 p 14 (SA)
17
A Biographical Register 1788 – 1939 HJ Gibbney and Ann G Smith (eds.), Canberra, 1987
18
State Records (SA) GRG24/6/1855/2984 William R Boothby, Returning Officer for the province to Colonial Secretary’s Office
‘Instructions to Deputy Returning Officers on the Day of Taking the Poll’ 11.9.1855
19
A Biographical Register 1788 – 1939 HJ Gibbney and Ann G Smith (eds.), Canberra, 1987
20
Ibid.
21
Act No. 1 1851, s XXVII p 11 (SA)
16
3
This public process was subject to dishonesty and abuse as the voters were unprotected and
could be open to bribery and intimidation. Consequently votes cast may have in fact been
forced and not a reflection of the elector’s true vote. The method of voting by raising hands
before 1856 is a far cry from what today is known as the ‘secret ballot’, nor did the process
uphold the now accepted principles of election conduct such as honesty, integrity and
impartiality.
There is contention as to who first introduced the notion of the ‘secret ballot’ within Australia.
Records indicate that Victorian legislation, assented to on the 19 March 1856, preceded the
South Australian legislation assented to on the 2 April 1856, by only two weeks. 22
The Honourable Henry Samuel Chapman, a London-born barrister and a member of
Victoria’s first Legislative Council put forward the Victorian version of the ‘secret ballot’.23 The
notion of a secret ballot was debated at length within the Victorian parliament, initially
focusing on how a secret ballot would not work rather than how it could. Chapman pointed
this out to the other members of the parliament and then highlighted the essence of why it
would and could work, and that was its simplicity.24
The style of secret ballot developed by Chapman in Victoria was the same as that accepted
for South Australia two weeks later. That is, the ballot paper contained the names of the
candidates and electors were required to cross out the names of candidates they did not
wish to be elected and place the ballot paper, unread by the Returning Officer or polling
officials, in a locked box.
However, the Victorian ‘secret’ ballot was still able to identify voters via a unique number for
each elector. The Returning Officer, Deputy Returning Officer or poll clerk was required to
record upon each ballot paper the number corresponding to that opposite the elector’s name
on the electoral roll. The elector’s name was then crossed off the certified copy of the
electoral roll.25 This meant that if the Returning Officer, or any other election official, was to
look at a completed ballot paper, they could then ‘match’ the number on the ballot paper with
the same number on the electoral roll and identify both the elector and their voting
preference.
South Australia took the notion of the secret ballot further. Section 29 of the 1855-6 Act
stated that the elector shall receive
…a white printed voting paper, marked with the initials of the Returning Officer or his
Deputy, containing the christian name and surname of each candidate, and no other
matter or thing; and there shall be provided separate apartments or places forming part
of the polling booth…there alone, and in private, without interruption, obliterate the
name of the Candidate or Candidates for whom he does not intend to vote; and shall
then fold the same paper, and immediately deliver it, so folded, to the Returning
Officer, or his Deputy, who shall forthwith publicly, and without opening the same,
deposit it in a box provided for that purpose…26
22
http://foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp?sdID=20
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/vote.html
24
R. Wright, A People’s Counsel: a history of the Parliament of Victoria 1856-1990, Oxford University Press, 1992, p 20
25
Electoral Act 1856, s 38 (VIC)
26
Act No. 10 1855-6, s 29 p 64 (SA)
23
4
Changes were advocated by Boothby two years after the secret ballot was adopted in 1856
and in 1858 the ballot paper was simplified. The candidates were listed and a square drawn
next to their names for the elector to place a cross to indicate their chosen candidate.
…a voting paper bearing the initials of the Returning Officer or his Deputy, and
containing the Christian name and surname of each candidate, and a blank square
printed opposite to the name of each candidate, with a number corresponding with the
order of nomination inserted in such square…there shall be provided separate
apartments, or places forming part of the polling booth, into which the voter shall
immediately retire, and there, alone and in private, without interruption, indicate the
name of the candidate for whom he intends to vote, by making a cross within the
square opposite the name of such candidate…27
These new provisions also allowed the ballot paper to show ‘no other matter or thing’ apart
from the names of the candidates and, on the back of the ballot paper, the Returning
Officer’s initials. This ensured that the notion of ‘secret ballot’ was upheld and practised.
Boothby’s voting initiatives were adopted in many countries. The Imperial Parliament in 1872
sought to reform its ballot system and Boothby was asked by the Colonial Office in London to
prepare and write a special report to be presented to the House of Commons when they
were debating their Ballot Bill.28 The British government chose to follow the South Australian
model developed by him. Many States of America also adopted the ‘Boothby Ballot’.
In his capacity as Returning Officer for South Australia from 1856 till 1903, Boothby oversaw
every parliamentary election during that period and was the first to complete rolls and
determine electorates for South Australia under the new Federation. He was the State
Returning Officer for the first House of Representatives election in 1901.29
Boothby was an exemplary Returning Officer who built his life around and made invaluable
contributions to electoral reform. He advanced voting methodology not only for South
Australia, but also many other parts of the world. The South Australian federal seat of
Boothby is named in his honour.
Those who have followed Boothby as the leading electoral administrator of South Australia
have continued to work for electoral efficiencies and fair play while stepping back from
debate on electoral system policies that are more appropriately dealt with by government.
Their workload now includes acting as Returning Officer for all local and other specified
government elections and, on request, industrial ballots and polls.
27
28
29
Act No. 12 1857-58, s 31 p 51 (SA)
Public Service Review, Vol. 23, No. 12 (December 1917), p 496-498
A Biographical register 1788 – 1939 HJ Gibbney and Ann G Smith (eds.), Canberra, 1987.
5
Returning Officer responsibilities
The tasks that Returning Officers are required to complete have been considerably modified
since 1851, due to infrastructure, transport, technology, legislative and other changes.
Responsibility for certain duties, such as the compilation of the electoral roll, has been
removed whilst other duties, such as training polling day staff, have assumed more
significance.
Roll management
An important responsibility for Returning Officers in the earlier days of the Province of South
Australia was to advise the public of matters concerning the electoral roll or lists of electors
eligible to vote in elections and the compilation of that roll. The Returning Officers initially had
collectors to compile the lists for them, with separate rolls for each house due to differences
in the franchise. Today the Electoral Commissioner is responsible for the publicity concerning
enrolment and the timely update of the roll. The Returning Officers are supplied with printed
certified lists of electors, which today is the same list for both houses of parliament.
Up until 1856 Returning Officers were expected to supply certified ‘lists’ of eligible electors
for each polling place. The terminology changed in 1857 when they became known as
electoral ‘rolls’ and were kept in the form of a book that showed among other details the date
of registration or enrolment.30
The electoral lists were available for public viewing and were kept in alphabetical order.
Electors were able to object to certain names being on the list and electors whose name had
been left off were able to claim entitlement to vote in that district. If two or more electors
objected to a certain person being on the roll, the Returning Officer was to question that
person as to their qualifications as an elector.31
The 1855-6 Constitution Act provided for a bicameral or two chamber Parliament. The
Legislative Council, the upper house, had a restricted franchise. Men who were 21 years of
age and over, who owned freehold estate valued at £50, or held a £20 yearly lease or
occupied a dwelling of £25 value were entitled to vote in the Legislative Council elections.32
There were no such restrictions on the franchise in the House of Assembly and all men 21
years of age or over were entitled to vote, provided they were listed on a register of eligible
electors for at least six months.33
Up until the late 1800s the electoral lists and their revision were the responsibility of the
Returning Officer. ‘Collectors’, appointed by the Governor, assisted the Returning Officer in
preparing the electoral roll for an election and maintaining it. The ‘collector’ was also
responsible for placing a notice on public buildings advising the community that to be entitled
to vote in Legislative Council elections, electors had to put their claim to the collector by
informing him of the property they had in that district. From these claims the collector put
together the ‘electoral list’ of all persons entitled to vote in such elections. Anyone omitted
from the roll, or was on the roll and objected to another person being on the roll, could
complete a form and attend the Court of Revision to plead their case. The ‘collector’ collated
30
Act No. 12 1857-58, ss 16 & 17 (SA)
Ordinance No. 1 1851, ss XI & XII (SA)
32
www.ecsa.sa.gov.au
33
www.ecsa.sa.gov.au
31
6
a list from the claimants and the objections and this was displayed for the public to see
before the Court of Revision met.
The Court of Revision consisted of a Special Magistrate and two Justices of the Peace.
Examples of the forms claimants and objectors would complete for the Court of Revision
follow.
NOTICE OF CLAIM
To the… … … of… … …
I hereby give you notice that I claim to have my name inserted in the Electoral List of
… … … in virtue of the freehold property which I possess at … … … (or of the dwellinghouse which I occupy at … … …, as the case may be.)
Dated at … … … day of … … … in the year 18
(Signed) JOHN STILES, of (place of abode)34
NOTICE OF OBJECTION
To the Clerk of … … … (and to the person objected to.)
I hereby give you notice, that I object to the name of … … … of … … … (name and
describe the person objected to as in the electoral list), being retained on the electoral list of
the … …
Dated this … … …
(Signed) John Stiles of (here state the dwelling-house, or property for
which he is included in the electoral list).35
Once the Court had sat and any claims were proven to the satisfaction of the court, the
revised list was displayed with the insertion and deletions being made, in alphabetical order.
The Electoral Act of 1869-70 changed the requirements for electoral roll maintenance. The
rolls for the two houses of Parliament were copied into a book in alphabetical order by
surname under the heading of the polling place in each district. The Court of Revision was
still held annually to determine roll adjustments. The Returning Officer for the Province held a
copy and, following each revision, was responsible for having multiple copies printed and
returned to the District Returning Officers.
In 1908, under the new Electoral Code, the (now) State Returning Officer became
responsible for the electoral roll and any amendments due to change of details and transfer
of electors from one district to another. The Returning Officers for each district were supplied
with copies of the roll after the issue of the writ.
Pre-election duties
From 1851, Returning Officers for each district received a writ from the Governor authorising
an election to be conducted. They were then required to place a public notice on the Local
Court House (later in the Government Gazette) advising of the details contained in the writ,
appoint polling places and presiding officers within their district or division and organise the
furnishings at each polling place. After 1929, the writ was still directed to the Returning
Officer but could be issued through the State Returning Officer (from 1973 the Electoral
34
35
Ordinance No. 1 1851, Schedule D (SA)
Ordinance No. 1 1851, Schedule E (SA)
7
Commissioner). From 1985, a single writ for periodic elections for all House of Assembly
districts was issued to the Electoral Commissioner alone, along with a writ for the Legislative
Council, who then notified Returning Officers of the details.
By 1985, pre-election duties included establishing and equipping polling booths; ensuring
that there were adequate numbers of properly trained staff and that specific electoral
materials were prepared for display at each booth.
Nominations to polling day
Another Returning Officer responsibility provided for in the 1851 Ordinance was the
requirement to preside at one polling place within their district and accept nominations. On
the day that nominations were due, the candidates were to meet at the chief polling place
and, providing that there were the same number of candidates as positions available, the
Returning Officer would declare those nominated as elected.
As previously stated, the ‘Boothby’ ballot was introduced in 1855-56 and electors for the first
bicameral parliament were asked to record their vote on a ballot paper by crossing out the
names of candidates whom they did not wish to elect. From 1858, an elector was required to
mark a cross inside the square opposite the names of their chosen candidate and, from
1929, to rank the candidates in order of preference.
Today, a House of Assembly Returning Officer receives nominations from independent
candidates intending to stand for Parliament and is notified of nominations from political party
candidates which are now lodged with the ECSA.
By 1890 it was recognised that voters who were absent from their district on polling day were
unable to vote. The legislation was amended36 so that electors who believed that they were
going to be absent from the electoral district for which they were registered could complete a
form to apply for a certificate from the Returning Officer for their district.37 They had to
declare in front of the Returning Officer that they were a person on the roll and that they
believed they were going to be absent on voting day.38
In the 1890’s, the certificate was printed on the back of an envelope and the Returning
Officer handed the envelope and a voting paper (with a counterfoil) to the applicant with
instructions on how to vote, along with another envelope addressed to the Returning Officer,
in which the elector was to place the certificate and the voting paper.39 If an elector applied to
vote through a postal officer, they also had to sign their name in a book to acknowledge the
receipt of the certificate and voting paper.
The Returning Officer also had to make a notation on the list of voters to be used at the
polling booths on voting day that the people who had received certificates were not entitled to
vote at a polling booth, unless two days prior to the election the elector returned the
certificate to the Returning Officer for cancellation.40
36
Act No. 498 1890, s 3 p 1
Ibid.
38
Act No. 498 1890, s 4 p 2
39
Act No. 498 1890, s 7 p 2
40
Act No. 498 1890, s 10 p 3
37
8
These absent votes were scrutinised and counted by the Returning Officers for each district.
Today, there are additional grounds for being able to issue an absent, pre-poll or postal vote
and the process of issuing postal votes, along with the initial scrutiny of all declaration votes,
is handled centrally by ECSA.
Polling day duties
On Election day polling booths are now open from 8am to 6pm. The candidates’ names are
printed on the ballot papers in the order decided by a draw undertaken by the Returning
Officer at the close of nominations. A square is placed next to each candidate’s name for the
elector to mark their preference(s) by using numbers. The electoral officer initials the ballot
papers and when completed by the elector in the privacy of a voting compartment, they are
placed in the ballot box. This is similar to the ‘Boothby ballot’ of the 1850s except that all
candidates were initially listed in order of nomination.41
In 1851, elections were held only if there were more candidates nominated than positions
available to be filled or if there was an objection to the result on nomination day. The
Returning Officer was responsible for ensuring that polling places were prepared, if
necessary, ready for Election day. Between 1851 and 1856, on the day, the Returning Officer
would give to eligible electors a voting paper that had their name, signature and address for
which they were entitled to vote. The elector was then to write the surname and given name
of their chosen candidate on the piece of paper. The Returning Officer or his Deputy would
then instruct the clerk to record every vote in a poll-book.
Upon the close of the election, the Returning Officer was to receive and collate votes from
the polling places within the district and carefully conduct a scrutiny and count of the House
of Assembly voting papers and poll books at the chief voting place. If there was a tie, the
Returning Officer could have the casting vote. This was the only situation where this was
allowed. At the completion of the scrutiny and count, the Returning Officer declared the
name/s of the person/s duly elected, before destroying all voting papers.
The House of Assembly Returning Officer forwarded the Legislative Council ballot papers for
the scrutiny and count, to the Returning Officer for the Province.
By the 1900s the Returning Officer was required on Election day to issue and receive voting
papers from electors absent from their polling area and conduct the scrutiny and count. In the
event of a tie of votes they retained the right to a casting vote and kept all unused and
informal ballot papers until advice had been received from the State Returning Officer to
destroy them.
Today, the initial scrutiny and count of all formal and informal ordinary ballot papers taken in
the booth for the district is supervised by the polling booth manager. Preliminary figures are
phoned to the Returning Officer who then forwards this information to a central tally location.
Post polling day duties
Today, ballot papers are rechecked for formality and recounted the day after polling, under
the guidance of the Returning Officer. Declaration votes (postal, pre-poll in person and
41
Act No. 10 1855-6, s 31 p 51 (SA)
9
absent ballot papers from electors voting outside their district) may be accepted to the count
up until 7 days after polling. Once counting has been completed, the Returning Officer
formally closes the election by publicly declaring the poll. The scrutiny and count of a House
of Assembly election can take a week or more, whilst the Legislative Council count may take
two to three weeks to complete due to the complexity of the count.42 In the event of a tied
House of Assembly election, the matter is now referred to the Court of Disputed Returns43, in
a Legislative Council election, the Returning Officer determines who shall be excluded
according to criteria outlined in the legislation.44
By 1879 the Returning Officer had to keep voting statistics for the Province in the form of a
table, including the number of electors on the roll, the number of voting papers found in the
ballot box, and the number of informal and formal voting papers.
Statistics are still kept by the Returning Officers and forwarded to the Electoral
Commissioner. Additional data recorded includes the number of ballot papers received from
ECSA and the number of cancelled and unused ballot papers. Signed copies of the roll used
at the poll must also be returned for scanning purposes to determine electors who may have
failed to vote.
Conclusion
Returning Officers have played an essential part in the democratic processes, upholding the
principles of integrity, neutrality and transparency that are fundamental to election conduct.
William Robinson Boothby, the first electoral administrator for the whole of South Australia,
developed the secret ballot in the mid 1850’s. His promotion of increased access for the
elector to electoral processes nurtured a non-partisan role for electoral officials and played a
crucial part in laying the foundations for a sound electoral framework.
Whilst previously Returning Officers were required to carry out most electoral duties
themselves, today many operations - for instance, roll management, declaration vote and
results processing - are now managed centrally with the aid of computers. However the
Returning Officer still holds a key role in election conduct at the local level, managing staff
and facilities to ensure electors can have their say in who will represent them in government
and finalising the count for their district.
The Electoral Commission of South Australia continues to give full consideration to the role
played by Returning Officers in a progressive electoral framework. The responsibilities of
Returning Officers are increasingly influenced by technology, including equipping Returning
Officers with computers and internet access and the introduction of a ‘virtual tally room’
which has influenced the manner in which the scrutiny and count information is conveyed to
the central count location. Other future technological advances such as the possible use of
computers at all polling locations or the introduction of ‘electronic voting’ could further
influence the way the vote and count is conducted. While polling places may eventually
disappear, the invaluable contribution of Returning Officers to the conduct of fair and
independent elections will always be recognised.
42
43
44
www.ecsa.sa.gov.au
Act No. 77 1985, s96(6)
Act No.77 1985, ss95, 96D
10
The position and role of Returning Officers 1857 compared to 2015
st
Returning officer
duties/ terms of
appointment
1 elections for a bicameral parliament
1857
2015
Appointment
By the Electoral Commissioner. Returning
Officers for the House of Assembly were
appointed as Deputy Returning Officers for
Province/ Legislative Council (LC) elections.
Can appoint assistant Returning Officer eg for
country districts.
By the Electoral Commissioner. House of
Assembly Returning Officers are appointed as
Deputy Returning Officer for the corresponding LC
division. Can appoint assistant Returning Officers
e.g. for country districts.
Gender
Had to be qualified to be an elector of the
province - the franchise was solely male.
Open to all applicants from the public and private
sectors; selection based on merit and equal
opportunity.
Occupation
‘A fit and proper person’. Most were
stipendiary magistrates; others were mayors,
wardens or chief municipal officers of a
municipal corporation.
Diverse. Must demonstrate management and
organisational skills.
Remuneration and
expenses
As determined in Schedule K to the 1855-6
Electoral Act. Day or piece rates depending
on the duty performed.
In accordance with a scale of fees and allowances
fixed from time to time by the Minister. Margaret
Macilwain indicates, ‘…since 2006 a change in the
contract arrangement for Returning Officers saw a
quarterly retainer changed to an election fee for
service basis, with performance based criteria the
45
trigger for progressive payments.’
Terms
Formal declaration before a JP: promise to
faithfully perform duties and refuse to divulge
knowledge of an elector’s vote. The
declaration was transmitted to the Colonial
Secretary. No Returning Officer could retain
the position if he became a candidate. From
st
1857-58 (not 1 bicameral elections) had to
reside within the electoral district to which
appointed or seeking appointment.
Cannot hold an official position in a political party.
Other conditions are laid out in a letter of
appointment, plus subject to constraints laid down
for electoral officers within the act and adherence
to a code of conduct for electoral employees.
Need not reside within the district to which
appointed.
Penalties
Neglect or refusal to carry out duties, £10-£200
for each offence.
Cannot solicit votes, take part in a campaign for a
particular political party or candidate, influence the
vote of an elector, divulge information or mark a
ballot paper so as to identify a voter and must not
fail to carry out duties without proper excuse
$2500 or 6 months imprisonment. Wear or display
campaign material $1250.
Rolls
Returning Officer had to: post a notice advising
potential electors within the district to notify the
Returning Officer of any claims to enrolment;
compile separate handwritten alphabetical
‘lists’ of electors for the LC (property franchise)
and the HA; manage objections, omissions
and roll updates as determined by Courts of
Revision; display electoral lists at court
premises and other conspicuous places,
supply an elector with a certificate of
entitlement to vote (to be produced when
voting) and, on request, copies of the roll for
not more than six pence per 72 words; provide
copies of the electoral lists for the Colonial
Secretary and the Returning Officer of the
Legislative Council (ROLC). Enrolment was
optional.
The Electoral Commissioner supplies all Returning
Officers with printed certified lists of electors for all
district needs. It is the same certified list for both
houses and comes from a joint State/
Commonwealth central computerised roll
database. The Electoral Commissioner is
responsible for any publicity for enrolment
activities and ensuring mechanisms for the timely
update of the rolls. Rolls are available for public
inspection at the ECSA office in the city.
Enrolment and voting is compulsory for State
Elections.
Continued on next page
45
Macilwain, M 2007 History of the State Electoral Office 1907-2007, pp 43. State Electoral Office, SA.
11
st
Returning officer
duties/ terms of
appointment
1 elections for a bicameral parliament
1857
2015
Issue of writs
Writ sent to the Returning Officer by carrier.
Could take up to 11 days to reach the
Returning Officer who had to give public notice
by affixing writ dates and chief and other
polling places to the local court house, district
council and post offices and other conspicuous
places within the district; had to also display
the electoral roll.
The Electoral Commissioner must be notified of
the terms of any writ affecting their district,
effectively same day transmission. The Electoral
Commissioner notifies electors of writ details by
public notice and starts a campaign to encourage
enrolment and voting. Print and electronic media
usually feature the day chosen for election day.
Nominations
Declaration at the chief polling place at noon.
Two electors from the district were required to
nominate a candidate and lodge a signed letter
with the Returning Officer.
Declaration at noon at Returning Officer office.
Individual nominations lodged with the Returning
Officer. Party nominations can be lodged with
ECSA; copies must be given to the Returning
Officer and revocations of candidature must be
given to the Returning Officer. The Returning
Officer conducts a draw for position on ballot
paper for a contested election. Returning Officer
may receive notification and lodgement of up to 2
voting tickets for a candidate or group of
candidates.
Polling places
Open 9am-4pm (5pm from 1858). Returning
Officers determined the polling places but ‘not
a house licensed for the sale of wine, beer or
spirituous liquors or within one hundred yards
of the same’. Had to preside at one, usually
the chief, polling place; erect booths or hire
rooms at each polling place as required;
appoint staff as saw fit; adjourn election
proceedings if interrupted by riot or violence.
Returning Officer or deputy had to initial the
back of the voting paper and, on completion by
the voter, place it in the ballot-box.
Open 8am-6pm. Polling place locations, including
pre-poll venues, are determined by the Electoral
Commissioner. The Returning Officer must ensure
proper establishment of a booth at each polling
place. Most Returning Officers visit during the day
if possible or send a delegate to each polling place
within their district. Most Returning Officers now
have mobile contact with their booths. Ballot
papers are initialled front top right by an electoral
officer; the elector places them in the ballot-box
when marked. Staffing allocations are worked out
centrally.
Capacity to vote
Casting vote if tie of votes.
A Returning Officer may vote in an election but
cannot exercise a casting vote. Legislative
provisions exist for tied votes.
Scrutiny
LC voting papers were sent to the ROLC for
the scrutiny and count. The Returning Officer
was responsible for the scrutiny and count of
‘voting papers’ for the HA at the place of
nomination, usually the chief polling place.
There was no requirement to vote. Turnout
was 56.6 % of enrolled electors for the LC
election, 56.2% for the HA in contested
districts.
Final scrutiny of declaration envelopes from prepoll, postal and absent voting; scrutiny and count
of all ‘ballot papers’ admitted to the count. A count
of LC and HA ballot papers is conducted at each
polling place. Formality criteria are determined by
legislation. Following election night, the ROLC
conducts a fresh scrutiny of LC ballot papers in a
central location. HA Returning Officers conduct a
mandatory recount in their offices plus a scrutiny
of declaration votes. A Returning Officer may
direct a recount or be ordered by the Electoral
Commissioner to undertake one. Turnout is
generally more than 90%. Data from processed
declaration votes are matched against information
from electronically scanned certified lists to obtain
a record of electors who voted and to eliminate
duplicates.
Return of the writs
Returned by the Returning Officer to the
Governor by the appointed date with
confirmation of election outcome. The ballot
papers were destroyed after the declaration of
the poll.
Returned to the Governor by the Electoral
Commissioner following advice and confirmation
from the RO of election outcomes. No specified
time for the destruction of ballot papers but must
be preserved until the election can no longer be
questioned.
Abbreviations:
RO - Returning Officer
ECSA - Electoral Commission of South Australia
HA - House of Assembly
LC - Legislative Council
ROLC – Returning Officer for the Legislative Council
12
District listing – Legislative Council Returning Officers 1851 – 2015
PARTLY NOMINATED & ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 1851-1857
BAROSSA
MacDonald
Butler
EAST ADELAIDE
Wyatt
Newenham
EAST TORRENS
Hardy
FLINDERS
Driver
Murray
HINDMARSH
Davison (Capt)
LIGHT
Jacobs
Salter
MOUNT BARKER
MacFarlane
Andrews
NOARLUNGA
Bosworth
NORTH ADELAIDE
Wyatt
Newenham
Glandfield
PORT ADELAIDE
Newland
Chambers
STANLEY
Gleeson
THE BURRA
Lang
Dashwood (Capt)
MacDonald
VICTORIA
Brewer
WEST ADELAIDE
Newenham
Sherwin
Hall
WEST TORRENS
Grainger
Blyth
Colley
Boothby
YATALA
Moorhouse
Rumley
Belt
James (John) William
Philip
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1851
1854
William
Charles Burton
1851
1852
Alfred
1851
Charles John
Andrew John
1851
1854
Francis
1851
William
William
1851
1854
Allan
Richard Bullock
1851
1855
Richard
1851
William
Charles Burton
Edward Bootle Wilbraham
1851
1852
1855
Richard Francis
Henry
1851
1855
Edward Burton
1851
William
George Frederick
James (John) William
1851
1851
1854
Charles Phillip
1851
Charles Burton
Peter
Joseph
1851
1853
1855
John
Arthur
Richard Bowen
William Robinson
1851
1851
1853
1855
Mathew
Clarence
William Charles
1851
1851
1855
WHOLLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 1857 ONWARDS
PROVINCE OF SA
Boothby (JP) (CMG)
Goddard
William Robinson
Frederick
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1857-1870
1871
13
CENTRAL
Boothby (JP) (CMG)
Ayliffe
Stephens
William Robinson
George Hamilton
Owen Hindmarsh
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1884-1902
1903-1905
1906-1912
NORTHERN
Edmunds (SM)
Stow (SM)
Hinde
Sinclair
Mitchell
Scott (SM)
Kirkman
Leaker
Coventry
Gillespie (SM)
Richards (SM)
Marshall (SM)
Morris (SM)
Douglass
Arthur Joseph
Jefferson Pickman
William John
James Hugh
Samuel James
Douglas Comyn
Kenneth Hainsworth
George Clifford
Charles James
William Charles
Dudley Lewis
John
Gronwy Lewis
Norman Bronte
1884-1891
1894-1902
1905
1910-1912
1915
1918-1930
1933
1934
1938-1939
1941-1947
1949-1956
1959
1962
1965-1973
NORTH EASTERN
Varley (SM)
Shakes (JP)
Martin
John
James
William Charles (Shakes)
1885-1886
1888-1898
1900-1905
SOUTHERN
Blue
Moore
Blue
Woods (JP)
Colman
Dunk (JP)
Clarke
Reed
Bollmeyer
Guscott (MBE)
William Arnold Sinclair
William Frederick
William Archibald Sinclair
James Dominick
Charles Wilson
Ernest Arthur
Frederick Charles
Frederick Cecil Garnet
William Augustine
Jack
1885-1888
1890
1891-1894
1897-1901
1902-1912
1915-1921
1924-1944
1947-1959
1962-1968
1971-1973
MIDLAND
Martin
Pearce
Martin
Martin
Summers
Arbery
Douglass
William Charles (Shakes)
James Smith
William Charles (Shakes)
William Shakes
Anthony Ripping
Frederick Stanley
Norman Bronte
1910-1913
1918
1921-1927
1930-1933
1938
1941-1956
1959-1973
CENTRAL NO. 1
Gregory
Peryman
Collin
Batchelor
Sydney Albert
Clarence Robert
Arthur Percy
William George Frederick
1915-1924
1927-1938
1941-1956
1956-1973
CENTRAL NO. 2
Peake (JP)
Paine
Matthews
Pounsett
Hutchins
Downs
Gormly
Hutchins
Allan
Edwin Henry
Herbert Kingsley
Charles Llandaff
Clement Aubrey
Hedley Thomas
Donald Archibald
George Angus
Hedley Thomas
Clem Davidson
1915-1921
1924
1927
1930-1944
1947
1950-1953
1956
1959-1962
1973
STATE OF SA
Guscott (MBE)
Graf
Griffiths
Oates
Overy
Jack
Stanley Arnold
Kerry John
Barry Stephen
Trevor Lawrence
1975
1982
1985-1997
2002
2006-2014
14
District listing – House of Assembly Returning Officers 1857 – 2015
ADELAIDE* 1902 Ayliffe (JP)
Schomburgk
Blackman
Reed
Martin
LePeair
Overy
Wilson
Hemming
George Hamilton
Otto Heinrich
Stanley George
Frederick Cecil Garnet
John Edwin
Robert John
Trevor Lawrence
David Baird
Brian
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1902
1905-1926
1927-1950
1953-1959
1962-1982
1985-1989
1993-2002
2006-2010
2014
ALBERT (1875 – 1899) (1915 –1968)
Smith (SM)
Henry James
Farmer
Swithin
Stow (SM)
Jefferson Pickman
Wallace
Alexander
Hacket (JP)
Herbert Bruce
Upton
Henry
Walton
John Edmund
Perrin
Herbert Henry
Eyre
Frank Stratford
Klinger
John Henry Royston
Grigson
James Edward
1875-1881
1884-1890
1885-1886
1893-1899
1915-1918
1921-1924
1927-1933
1938-1941
1944
1947-1950
1953-1968
ALBERT PARK (1970 –1989)
Porter
Jack Maxwell
Porter
Donald Morris
Overy
Trevor Lawrence
1970-1979
1982-1985
1989
ALEXANDRA (1902 – 1992)
Colman
Dunk
Clarke
Dunstan
McKinnon
Coleman
Barry
Dolkens
Charles Wilson
Ernest Arthur
Frederick Charles (Fred Chas)
Basil Gladstone
Neil Kay
Vincent John
Robert Harry
Bastian Willem F.
1902-1912
1913-1921
1923-1934
1938-1965
1968-1975
1977-1979
1982-1989
1992
ANGAS (1938 –1968)
Feist
Ernst Rudolf
1938-1968
ASCOT PARK (1970 –1982)
Gudelis
Eduardas (Edward)
Foster
Richard John
1970-1979
1982
ASHFORD* 2002 Barry
Brolese
Seymour
2002
2006-2010
2014
Lynton James
Nick
Ken
15
BAROSSA (1857 –1933) (1956 – 1968)
Browne
John Stewart
Murray
Henry Dundas
Angus
George French
Clark
William
Rundle
Herman Cornelius
Harvey
James
Leaker
George Clifford
Richards
Frederick James
Milne
Alexander
Paech
Murray Morton
Davis
Keith Hainsworth
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1857
1860
1862
1864-1896
1899-1901
1902-1915
1917-1924
1927
1930-1933
1956-1959
1962-1968
BAUDIN (1977 –1989)
McKinnon
Schmerl
Coleman
Lockett
Polkinghorne
Neil Kay
Grant Herbert
Vincent John
Warren Anthony
Andrew James
BRAGG* 1970 Pearce
Becker
Dunning
Wyman
Maroulis
King
Herrmann
Lewis
Kenneth Norman
Andrew Kingsley
Ronald Maurice
Robert Hugh
Anthony (Tony)
Michael Anthony
Malcolm
Roger
1970-1973
1975
1977-1979
1982-1989
1993-1997
2002-2006
2010
2014
BRIGGS (1985-1989)
Austin
Norris Wayne
1985-1989
BRIGHT* 1985 Haines
Tully
Bargwanna
Lock
Jaksa
Alderman
Colin Middlebrook
Steven Hunter
Roy
Brian Anthony (Tony)
Sylvia
John
1985
1989-1993
1997
2002-2006
2010
2014
BRIGHTON (1970 –1982)
Peters
Gadsby
Ronald Charles
Henry
1970-1975
1977-1982
BURNSIDE (1938 –1968)
Williamson
White
Pearce
John Franklin
John Sampson
Kenneth Norman
1938-1946
1947-1956
1959-1968
BURRA (1875 – 1901) (1938 –1968)
Forder
Augustus Highmore
Lane
John
Davey
Edward James
Davey
Edmund James
Davey
Elias Reginald
Perry
Thomas Gordon
1977
1979
1982
1985
1989
1875-1899
1901
1938-1947
1950
1953-1959
1962-1968
16
BURRA BURRA (1902 –1933)
Moody
John
Moody
Arthur Clement
Davis
Alfred George
Jones
Samuel Daniel
CHAFFEY* 1938 Dridan
Dridan
Balfour-O'Gilvy
Murrie
Jackson
Correll
Grieger
William
Harold Clyde
Douglas Dunbar
James Alexander
William Alex James
Robin Wilson
Timothy John
CHELTENHAM* 2002 Brolese
Brady
Alderman
Durdin
Nick
Stephen Robert
John
Trevor
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1902
1905-1910
1912
1915-1933
1938-1941
1944
1947-1950
1953-1962
1965-1977
1979-1982
1985-2014
2002
2006
2010
2014
CITY OF ADELAIDE (1857 – 1862)
Lazar
John
1857-1862
COLES (1970 – 1997)
Becker
Griffiths
Maroulis
Austin
Andrew Kingsley
Kerry John
Anthony
Norris Wayne
1970-1977
1979
1982-1989
1993-1997
COLTON* 1993 Klopp
Grenville
Bailey
Rollond
Baillie
Ronald Arthur William
Peter John
Peter Lewis
Peter
Robert Alexander
1993
1997-2002
2006
2010
2014
CROYDON* 2002 Beerworth
Williams
Vitagliano
Michael Joseph
Grant
Mario
2002-2006
2010
2014
CUSTANCE (1985 – 1993)
Chambers
Feist
James Lindsay
Ronald John
1985-1990
1993
DAVENPORT* 1970 Pearce
Austin
Trumble
Tuckwell
Barry
Johns
Hutchinson
Schneider
Bogisch
Kenneth Norman
Norris Wayne
Hugh Peter C.
Harold Thomas
Lynton James
Bryan 'Wayne'
Murray Bruce
Geoff
Dean
1970-1973
1975-1982
1985
1989-1993
1997
2002
2006
2010
2014-2015
DUNSTAN* 2014 Judd
Michelle
2014
17
EAST ADELAIDE (1862 – 1899)
Ingleby
Rupert
Nicholson (SM)
John
Ayliffe
George Hamilton
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1862-1875
1878-1884
1886-1899
EAST TORRENS (1857- 1899) (1915 – 1933)
Hardy
Alfred
Chapman
Henry
MacDermott
Marshal
Hawkes
George Wright
Gwynne
Edward Castres
Woods
James Dominick
O'Grady
Philip John
1857
1858-1870
1871
1875-1878
1877
1881-1899
1915-1933
EDWARDSTOWN (1956 – 1968)
Woods
Stanley Stuart
Gudelis
Eduardas (Edward)
1956-1965
1968
ELDER* 1993 Cundy
Collins
Curtis
Lang
Myles
Peter Robert
Angela
Geoff
1993-2002
2006
2010
2014
ELIZABETH (1970 – 2002)
Hatcher
Williams
Schmerl
Price
Lancelot Melville
Paul David
Grant Herbert
Richard Ivor
1970-1975
1977-1979
1982
1985-2002
ENCOUNTER BAY (1857 – 1899)
Higgins
Thomas Walker
Laurie
Buxton Forbes
Scarfe
Henry Cornelius
McCullagh (SM)
William George
Colman
Charles Wilson
1857-1858
1860-1873
1875
1878-1884
1887-1899
ENFIELD* (1956 – 1968) 2002 Heairfield
Reginald Charles Venters
Storer
Clive Thomas
Wilson
David Baird
O’Donoghue
Michael Timothy
Neate
Michael
1956-1962
1965-1968
2002
2006
2010-2014
EYRE (1938 – 1993)
Symonds
Jacobs
Sharrad
Gudelis
Green
Gudelis
Cox
Philip Warburton
Norman Vernon
Maxwell Arnold
Eduardas (Edward)
Milton John
Eduardas (Edward)
Brian Thomas
1938-1941
1944-1970
1973-1975
1977
1979
1982
1985-1993
FINNISS* 1993 Dolkens
Whitcher
Gilbert
Kavanagh
Bastian Willem F.
Craig John
Steven Ronald
Leith
1993
1997-2002
2006-2010
2014
18
FISHER* 1970 Hehir
Hassam
Schmerl
Drolsbach
Terence Michael
Darryl John
Grant Herbert
Fred
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1970-1982
1985-1993
1997-2006
2010-2014
FLINDERS* 1857 Murray
Smith
Gower
Donaldson
Browne
Bennett
Richardson
Trembath
Hinde
Garrett
Walter
Doudy
Jacobs
Cowley
Lindsay
Raleigh
Burfitt
Johnston
Gray
Patterson
Andrew John
Henry James
Erasmus
George
John Stewart
William Ogle
James Campbell
William James
William John
Ernest E.
Arthur Ross
Cecil Roy
Norman Vernon
Melville Roy
Kenneth Gordon
Janet Fiona
Ian Lindsay
Norman Harrison
Wade
Rod
1857-1860
1862-1871
1875-1878
1881-1882
1884-1887
1890-1896
1899-1901
1902-1905
1906-1912
1915
1918-1921
1924
1927-1970
1973-1982
1985-1989
1993-1997
2002
2006
2010
2014
FLOREY* 1970 DeLongville
Oates
Vitagliano
King
Ian Charles
Barry Stephen
Mario
Michael
1970-2002
2006
2010
2014
FROME* (1884 – 1899) (1938 – 1975) 1993 Moody
John
Koch
Rudolph Herbert
Stubbs
Harry McCauley
Howard
John Thomas
Manuel
Peter Francis
Graf
Albert William
Burfitt
Ian Lindsay
Brolese
Nick
Zubrnich
Alan
Fuchs
Sandra
1884-1899
1938-1956
1959-1960
1962-1975
1993
1997-2002
2006
2009
2010
2014
GAWLER (1938 – 1968)
Milne
Beadnall
Hatcher
Alexander
Percy William Cuthbert
Lancelot Melville
1938-1941
1944-1959
1962-1968
GILES* 1993 Smith
Scheide
Knox
Genahl
Murray Ivan
Gűnter
David
Robert
1993-1997
2002
2006
2010-2014
GILLES (1970 – 1989)
Storer
Green
Clive Thomas
Milton John
1970-1979
1982-1989
19
GLADSTONE (1884 – 1899)
Edmunds
Arthur Joseph
Stow
Jefferson Pickman
GLENELG (1938 – 1982)
Lewis
Peters
Chislett
Bargwanna
Lewis
Hooper
Francis Arthur
Ronald Charles
Cedric Stanley
Roy
Robert George
Norman Hamilton
GOODWOOD (1938 – 1953)
Woods
Stanley Stuart
Amos
Percy James
Woods
Stanley Stuart
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1884-1893
1896-1899
1938-1953
1956-1968
1970
1973
1975-1977
1979-1982
1938-1941
1944
1947-1953
GORDON (1993 – 1997)
Johns
Vinall
Bryan 'Wayne'
Trevor John
GOUGER (1938 – 1975)
Warhurst
Walter
Acott
Pitt
Lindsay
Coventry
Grieger
Percy Frank Allison
Noel Campbell
Frederick Thomas
Donald Graham
Kenneth Gordon
Kenneth John
Timothy John
1938-1947
1950-1953
1956-1959
1962
1965-1970
1973
1975
GOYDER* 1970 Abbot
Grieger
Disher
Moritz
Leckie
Rayner
Woolford
John Garton
Timothy John
Peter William
Charles William
Nigel
Ian
Andrew
1970-1975
1977
1979-1993
1997-2002
2006
2010
2014
GUMERACKA (1857)
Driffield
Frederick Simeon Caries
1993
1997
1857
GUMERACHA (1860 – 1901) (1938 – 1968)
McEwin (JP)
George
McEwin (JP)
Robert
Haines
William
Monfries
Leonard Roy
Norsworthy
Donald Clifton
1860-1881
1884-1890
1893-1901
1938-1944
1947-1968
HAMMOND* 1997 Coventry
Kenneth John
1997-2014
HANSON (1970 – 1997)
Guscott
Tamblyn
Bargwanna
Guscott
Klopp
Foster
Murphy
Jack
Horace Richard
Roy
Jack
Ronald Arthur William
Richard John
Christopher Douglas
1970-1975
1977
1979
1982
1985-1989
1993
1997
20
HART (1993 – 1997)
Harris
Collins
Thomas 'Brian'
Peter Robert
HARTLEY* 1977 Becker
Hemmerling
Foote
Martin
Martin
Whitmarsh
Williams
Andrew Kingsley
Malcolm Brian
Gregory Allan
John Edwin
Kerry Barbara
Lynette Anne
Grant
HAYWARD (1985 – 1989)
Hooper
Haines
Norman Hamilton
Colin Middlebrook
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1993
1997
1977
1979
1982
1985-1989
1993-1997
2002-2010
2014
1985
1989
HENLEY BEACH (1970 – 1989)
Tamblyn
Horace Richard
Foster
Richard John
Tamblyn
Horace Richard
Williams
Paul David
Cundy
Myles
1970-1977
1979
1982
1985
1989
HEYSEN* (1970 – 1975) 1985 Frewin
Hugh Raymond
Perrin
Gordon Douglas
Milln
Jillian Patricia
Carter
Dianne Joy
Williams
Brenton
Grivell
Michael
1970-1973
1975
1985
1989-1993
1997- 2006
2010-2014
HINDMARSH (1938 – 1968)
Mitchell
Lisle Trewennack
Porter
James (Jack) Maxwell
1938-1956
1959-1968
KAURNA* 1993 Polkinghorne
Hutchinson
Andrew James
Murray
1993-2010
2014
KAVEL* 1970 Feist
Feist
Seaman
Feist
LePeair
Okunieff
Jones
Kuss
Ernest Rudolph
Ronald John
David George
Peter James
Robert John
Zenon (Zok)
Rex
Michelle
1970-1973
1975-1982
1985
1989
1992-1993
1997
2002-2010
2014
LEE* 1993 Booth
Booth
Prime
Bianco
Leanna Denise
Brenton Ashley
Michael
Carla
1993-2002
2006
2010
2014
21
LIGHT* (1857 – 1899) 1938 Blood
Browne
Varley
Shakes
Summers
Arbery
Richards
Williams
Wellington
Davis
Hatcher
Chambers
Feist
Paterson
Okunieff
Williams
Matthew Henry Smyth
John Stewart
John
James
Anthony Rippings
Frederick Stanley
Walter Edward Louis
Raymond Haynes
Ronald
Keith Hainsworth
Lancelot Melville
James Lindsay
Ronald John
Donald McGregor
Zenon (Zok)
Gerry
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1857-1860
1862-1868
1870-1887
1890-1899
1938
1939-1956
1959-1960
1962
1965-1968
1970-1975
1977-1979
1982
1985-1989
1993-2002
2006
2010-2014
LITTLE PARA* 2006 Ridley
Starkey
Tonissen
Barbara Helen
John
Annette
MACKILLOP* 1993 Winter
Smith
Ralph Lincoln
Daryl
1993-2010
2014
MALLEE (1970 – 1982)
Crocker
Howard
Parker
David Halary
Peter John
Lyall Frederick
1970-1975
1977
1979-1982
MAWSON* 1970 McKinnon
Hehir
Curtis
Schmerl
Lindsay
Griffiths
Lindsay
Williams
Neil Kay
Terence Michael
Robert Gordon
Grant Herbert
Robert John
Kerry John
Robert
Evan
1970-1975
1977
1979-1989
1993
1997-2002
2006
2010
2014
MILLICENT (1956 – 1975)
McNally
Merrill
Behenna
Parsons
Weinert
Schild
Arnold Kingsley
Frederick Lester
William David
Arthur John Torrens
Ronald Milton
Roderick Wilfred
1956-1962
1965
1968
1970
1973
1975
MITCHAM (1938 – 1989)
White
Bowes
Schapel
McNally
Chislett
Hehir
Wright
Lendon Thompson
Lindsay Burton
Leonard Herman
Arnold Kingsley
Cedric Stanley
Terence Michael
Reye Lancelot
1938-1950
1953-1956
1959-1965
1968-1970
1973
1975
1977-1989
2006
2010
2014
22
MITCHELL* 1970 Gill
Griffiths
Bargwanna
Aquilina
Brenton Trevor
Kerry John
Roy
John
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1970-1979
1982
1985-1993
1997-2014
MORIALTA* 2002 Austin
Herrmann
Figg
Jones
Norris Wayne
Malcolm Arthur
David
Rex
2002
2006
2010
2014
MORPHETT* 1977 Guscott
Gill
Shearing
Russon
Collins
Richard Lars
Brenton Trevor
Ronald Dean
William Frank
Peter
1977-1979
1982-1985
1989-2002
2006
2010-2014
MOUNT BARKER (1857 – 1899)
Walker
John
Dashwood
George Frederick
Bonnar
John James
Blue (JP)
William Archibald Sinclair
Henderson
Thomas Hall
1857-1860
1862-1871
1875-1876
1878-1896
1898-1899
MOUNT GAMBIER* (1938 – 1989) 2002 Kellet
Joseph James
McNally
Arnold Kingsley
Merrill
Frederick Lester
Parsons
Arthur John Torrens
Johns
Bryan 'Wayne'
Vinall
Trevor John
Russon
Bill
1938-1947
1950-1962
1965
1968-1970
1973-1989
2002-2006
2010-2014
MURRAY (1902 – 1982)
Haines
Fowler
Richards
Pugh
Mugford
Hopkins
Whitehead
Coventry
1902
1905-1924
1927-1933
1938-1962
1965-1968
1970
1973
1975-1982
William
Charles William
Francis
Angelo Victor
Sydney Fredrick
John Maurice
John William Philbey
Kenneth John
MURRAY-MALLEE (1985 – 1989)
Coventry
Kenneth John
1985-1989
NAPIER* 1977 Hatcher
Okunieff
Rowan-Kelly
Rollond
1977-1997
2002
2006-2010
2014
Lancelot Melville
Zenon (Zok)
Brenton
Peter
23
NEWCASTLE (1884 – 1899) (1915 – 1953)
Donaldson
George
Rudall
John
Trembath
William James
Hinde
William John
Nesbit
Hubert Gordon Pariss
Hennessy
Clement Vincent
Ford
John Taiton
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1884-1887
1890-1896
1899
1915-1924
1927-1933
1938-1950
1953
NEWLAND* 1977 Wyman
Oates
Waters
Oates
Newcombe
Leckie
Robert Hugh
Barry Stephen
Alan Lawrence
Barry Stephen
Jeffrey Alan
Nigel
1977-1979
1982
1985
1989-1997
2002-2006
2010-2014
NOARLUNGA (1857 – 1899)
Reynell
Peake
Dashwood
Myles (JP)
John
Edward John
George Frederick
Charles Hegan
1857-1860
1862-1871
1875
1878-1899
NORTH ADELAIDE (1875 – 1901) (1915 – 1933)
Coates
Charles James
Matthews (Snr) (Col)
Llandaff Brisbane
Coates
Charles James
Matthews (Snr) (Col)
Llandaff Brisbane
Cox
Richard Baxter
Rossi
William
Siekmann
Francis Charles
1875-1881
1884
1887
1890-1896
1897-1899
1901
1915-1933
NORTHERN TERRITORY (1890 – 1910)
Knight (SM)
John George
Symes
John James
Holtze
Nicholas
Peake
Robert George
Holtze
Nicholas
1890-1891
1893
1896-1905
1906
1908-1910
NORWOOD (1938 – 2010)
Tillett
Wildy
Collins
Graf
Chislett
Willis
King
Arthur Colin
Mervyn Arthur George
Herbert George
Stanley Arnold
Cedric Stanley
William John
Michael
1938-1950
1953-1959
1962-1979
1980
1982
1985-2006
2010
ONKAPARINGA (1857 – 1899) (1938 – 1968)
Gower
Erasmus
Sinclair
John Ross
Bundey
William Henry
Esau
Herman Carl Frederick
Richards
Francis
Frewin
Hugh Raymond
1857-1862
1865
1868
1870-1899
1938-1950
1953-1968
PEAKE (1970 – 1997)
Giddings
Schmerl
Beerworth
Bitter
1970-1982
1985-1989
1993
1997
Keith Ray
Grant Herbert
Michael Joseph
Christopher Stephen
24
PIRIE (1970 – 1975)
Fullgrabe
Daniel
Raymond Walter
John David
PLAYFORD* 1970 Lewis
Parsons
Cox
Cox
Harris
Austin
Baillie
Cameron
James Stanley
Arthur John Torrens
Brian Thomas
Edith Claire
Thomas 'Brian'
Norris Wayne
Robert Alexander
Paul
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1970-1973
1975
1970-1973
1975-1979
1982
1985-1993
1997
2002
2006-2010
2014
PORT ADELAIDE* (1857 – 1968) 2002 Collinson
Edward Gascoigne
Hall
Anthony
Hall
Anthony Paget
Formby
John
Formby
Alfred
King
Frederick Martin
O'Loughlin
Michael Joseph
Peryman
Clarence Robert
Sutton
Herbert Samuel
Olifent
Gordon Leslie
Chivell
Leo Stanley
Becker
Andrew Kingsley
Bailey
Peter
Elsegood
Belinda Jane
1857
1858-1878
1880-1887
1890-1902
1905-1912
1915
1918-1921
1924-1925
1927
1927-1933
1938-1965
1968
2002
2006-2014
PORT PIRIE (1915 – 1968)
Mitchell
Cresswell (JP)
Leaker
Bollmeyer
Walsh
Fullgrabe
Samuel James
George Edwin
George Clifford
William Augustine
Keith Richmond
Raymond Walter
1915
1918-1924
1927-1944
1946-1959
1962-1965
1968
PRICE (1970 – 1997)
Merrill (DFC)
Hooper
Oates
Dunning
Stewart
Brolese
Frederick Lester
Norman Hamilton
Barry Stephen
Ronald Maurice
Douglas Graham
Nick
1970
1973-1975
1977-1979
1982-1985
1989-1993
1997
PROSPECT (1938 – 1953)
Green
Dicker
Green
Heairfield
Ivor Bren
Harold Albert Henry
Ivor Bren
Reginald Charles Venters
1938
1941-1944
1947
1950-1953
RAMSAY* 1985 Wright
Rawolle
Wasley
Seymour
Lustica
Robert William
Mark Edward
David Brian
Ken
Zoran
1985-1989
1993
1997-2006
2010-2012
2014
25
REYNELL* 1993 Curtis
Robert Gordon
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1993-2014
RIDLEY (1938 – 1968) (1993)
Annells
Percy Webb
Crocker
David Halary
Coventry
Kenneth John
1938-1950
1953-1968
1993
ROCKY RIVER (1938 – 1982)
Deeble
John Greaves
Gale
George William Harold
Harslett
Harry Tancred
Pavy
Harry Deane
1938-1944
1947-1953
1956-1979
1982
ROSS SMITH (1970 – 1997)
Klopp
Simms
Strika
Green
Ronald Arthur William
Neil
Brian John
Milton John
1970-1982
1985
1989
1993-1997
SALISBURY (1970 – 1982)
Bormann
Wright
Jack
Robert William
1970-1979
1982
SCHUBERT* 1997 Feist
Cameron
Kuhl
Thomas
Peter James
Andrew William
Terry
Jo
1997-2002
2006
2010
2014
SEMAPHORE (1938 – 1989)
Carr
Sullivan
Collins
Harris
John Thomas
Thomas Michael
Trevor James
Thomas 'Brian'
1938-1968
1970-1975
1977-1985
1989
SPENCE (1970 – 1997)
Batchelor
Schapel
Foote
Williams
Giddings
Beerworth
William George Frederick
Ernest Edward
Gregory Allan
Paul David
Keith Ray
Michael Joseph
1970
1973-1975
1977-1979
1982
1985-1993
1997
STANLEY (1862 – 1953)
Powell
Reynolds
Bleechmore
Stow
Hinde
Sinclair
Budge
Deeble
Smith
Thomas (John) William
Thomas Frederick
Fred Auburn
Jefferson Pickman
William John
James Hugh
Charles
John Greaves
Kenneth
1862-1884
1885-1893
1896-1899
1902
1905
1906-1912
1915-1930
1933
1938-1953
STIRLING (1938 – 1968)
Clarke
Eyre
Brideson
Shields
Frederick Charles
Frank Stratford
Clarence Arthur
Gordon Piercy
1938-1944
1947
1950-1963
1965-1968
26
STUART* (1938 – 1989) 1997 Bollmeyer
William Augustine
McNally
Arnold Kingsley
Walsh
Keith Richmond
Merrill
Frederick Lester
Correll
Robin Wilson
Richards
William Henry
Foster
Richard John
Daniel
John David
Manuel
Peter Francis
Manuel
Peter Francis
Moroney
Roger
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1938-1944
1947
1950-1959
1962
1965-1970
1973
1975
1977
1979-1989
1997-2006
2010-2014
STURT (1875 – 1899) (1915 – 1933)
Biggs
James Hesketh
Lucas
De Neufville
Harris
Joseph
Harris
Joseph
Kappler
Roy George Arthur
Green
Ivor Bren
1875-1882
1884-1896
1899
1915-1924
1927
1930-1933
TAYLOR* 1993 Strika
Nickson
Hughes
1993-2006
2010
2014
Brian John
Tony
David
TEA TREE GULLY (1970 – 1975)
Graf
Stanley Arnold
1970-1975
THE BURRA (1862 – 1873)
MacDermott
Marshal
Forder
Augustus Highmoor
Forder
Angus Highmoor
1862-1870
1871
1873
THE BURRA & CLARE (1857 – 1862)
MacDonald
James (John) William
MacDermott
Marshal
1857-1860
1861-1862
THE MURRAY (1857 – 1862)
Hawker
Thomas Drewitt
Tolmer
Alexander
1857
1860-1862
THE STURT (1857 – 1874)
Colley
Cobbett
Fesenmeyer
Biggs
1857
1860
1862-1870
1871-1874
Richard Bowen
Pitt
Frederick Ruppersberger
James Hesketh
THEBARTON (1938 – 1953)
Mitchell
Mervin Lance
Channan
Arnold James
TODD (1977 – 1989)
Waters
Leckie
Alan Lawrence
Nigel
1938
1941-1953
1977-1982
1985-1989
27
TORRENS* (1902 – 1912) (1938 – 1982) 1993 Woods
James Dominick
Harris
Joseph
Batchelor
William George Frederick
Simms
Neil
Leckie
Nigel
Gilbert
Stephen Ronald
Harris
Ronald James
Craig
Ian
UNLEY* 1938 Pitcher
Dicker
Dunning
Hemmerling
Walker
LePeair
O’Donoghue
Tidd
Kenneth Mathews
Harold Albert
Ronald Maurice
Malcolm Brian
John Robert
Robert John
Michael
Rob
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1902
1905-1912
1938-1975
1977-1982
1993-1997
2002
2006-2010
2014
1938-1956
1959-1975
1977-1979
1982-1985
1989-1993
1997-2006
2010
2014
VICTORIA (1857 – 1899) (1915 – 1989)
Seymour
Henry
Seymour
Thomas Thompson
Lyon
James Carisbrook
Gower
Erasmus
Scott
George Byng
Turner
Richard James
O’Halloran
Thomas Joseph Shuldham
Scott
George Byng
Stow (SM)
Jefferson Pickman
Swan
Henry Charles
Johnstone
William
Olson
Alfred Frank Oswald
Haslam
Leslie Horrocks
Muirhead
Henry Mortimer
Howland
Arthur Stilville
Mars
Leonard Burton
Humphris
Archie
McNally
Arnold Kingsley
Roeger
Hamley Edwin
Parsons
Arthur John Torrens
McKinnon
Neil Kay
Moody
Provo Vaughan
Winter
Ralph Lincoln
1857
1858-1860
1862
1865-1868
1870-1873
1875-1877
1878
1881-1884
1887-1893
1896-1899
1915
1918
1921
1924
1927
1930-1933
1938-1947
1950-1953
1956
1959
1962-1965
1968-1973
1975-1989
VICTORIA & ALBERT (1902 – 1912)
Swan
Henry Charles
Johnstone
William
1902-1904
1905-1912
WAITE* 1993 Wright
Herrmann
Prime
Williams
Murdoch
1993
1997-2002
2006
2010
2014
Reye Lancelot
Malcolm Arthur
Michael Craig
Evan
Carolyn
28
WALLAROO (1875 – 1968)
Shepherdson
Keats
Bennett
Keats
Halcombe (SM)
Ronald
Kelly
Ray
Ronald
Johnston (SM)
Merril
Evans
Gibson
John Banks
James Thomas
William Ogle
James Thomas
Guy Worthington
Stuart Douglas
William Raymond
Walter Vernon
Stuart Douglas
Laurence Frederick John
Frederick Lester
Ivor John
John William
WALSH (1985 – 1989)
Foster
Richard John
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1875-1893
1896
1899-1905
1906-1915
1918-1921
1924
1927-1930
1933-1941
1944
1947
1950-1953
1956-1959
1962-1968
1985-1989
WEST ADELAIDE (1862 – 1901)
Lazar
John
Woods
James Dominick
Stow
Jefferson Pickman
Nicholson
John
Schomburgk
Otto Heinrich
1862
1865-1871
1875-1884
1887-1890
1893-1901
WEST TORRENS* (1857 – 1899) (1915 – 1933) (1956 – 1968) 2002 Wigley
William Rodolph
Colley
Richard Bowen
Anderson
George
Paxton
John
Rowland
Walter
Cox
Richard Baxter
Howley
Andrew
Madge
Edward Alfred Henry
Mitchell
Mervin Lance
Channan
Arnold James
Egan
Alphonsus
Guscott (MBE)
Jack
Collins
Peter Robert
Lang
Geoffrey Philip
Fuller
Don
Sarris
Spiro
1857
1860-1871
1875-1878
1876
1881
1884-1896
1899
1915-1927
1930-1933
1956-1959
1962-1965
1968
2002
2006
2010
2014
WHYALLA (1956 – 1989)
Ryan
Menard
Smith
Charles Landers
John Alexander Laird
Murray Ivan
1956-1968
1970-1982
1985-1989
WOOROORA (1875 – 1934)
Bleechmore
Bleechmore
Scholefield
Martin
Pearce
Martin
Martin
Joseph Edwin
Edwin George
James
William Charles (Shakes)
James Smith
William Charles (Shakes)
William Shakes
1875-1890
1890
1891-1899
1902-1915
1918
1921-1924
1927-1934
29
WRIGHT* 1993 Whitmarsh
Styling
Nemcic
c
M Callum
Starkey
Lynette Anne
Robert
John Philip
Linda
John
YATALA (1857 – 1899)
Milne
Fisher
Turner
Rowland
Newland
Bis Winkel (JP)
Verco
Harvey
Robert
John
Richard James
Peter
Peter
Freiderick
Richard
James
ELECTIONS CONDUCTED
1993-1997
2002
2006
2010
2014
1857
1860
1862-1868
1870-1875
1875
1878
1881-1887
1890-1899
YORKE PENINSULA (1884 – 1899) (1915 – 1968)
Gower
Erasmus (Abel Henry)
Allen
Frederick William
Davies
Daniel Merddyn Scott
Crocker
Ernest Roy
Carne
Alfred George
Crocker
Ernest Roy
Carne
Alfred George
Abbot
John Garton
1884-1887
1890-1899
1915-1930
1933-1941
1944
1947
1950-1959
1962-1968
YOUNG (1938 – 1953)
Eyre
Short
1938
1941-1953
Sidney Charles Herbert
Ivo Ernest
* Indicates current District names
A horizontal dashed line indicates a significant gap in years.
30
Glossary
Absent Vote A vote cast at a polling booth by an elector outside his or her enrolled electoral
district on polling day. Also see Declaration Vote.
Declaration Vote A vote given to electors who are unable to vote at a polling booth in their
enrolled district on polling day. Enrolment details are provided by the elector on the
declaration vote envelope, the completed ballot papers are placed inside the envelope that is
then sealed. They are later distributed to the appropriate district Returning Officer for
inclusion in the count. (Declaration votes include absent votes, postal votes and pre-poll
votes).
District (electoral) A defined geographical area of the State. The whole of the State is one
electoral district for the Legislative Council, while there are 47 electoral districts for the House
of Assembly, each containing approximately equal numbers of electors.
Draw or Lot An object such as a slip of paper drawn from others to make a choice. The
order of candidates’ names on the ballot papers is determined by a draw or `lot’.
ECSA Electoral Commission of South Australia.
Electoral Commissioner The statutory officer responsible to the Minister for the
administration of the Electoral Act 1985 including the proper conduct of elections and the
implementation of appropriate publicity, education and research programs.
Electoral Roll A certified list of electors who have enrolled and are eligible to vote in an
election.
Franchise The right to vote. ‘Extending the franchise’ means giving more people the right to
vote. For example, in 1971 the voting age was lowered in South Australia from 21 to 18 so
extending the franchise to 18, 19 and 20 year olds. This Act came into operation on 30th
June 1972 and applied for the first time at the general elections held 10th March 1973.
House of Assembly The Lower House of State Parliament comprising 47 members each
elected by the voters in an electoral district in South Australia.
Legislative Council The Upper House of Parliament in South Australia. It has 22 members
elected for an eight year term, half of whom are elected at each State General Election.
Nomination The formal process by which a person becomes a candidate in an election.
Ordinary Vote Ordinary votes are issued on polling day to electors at a booth who are
enrolled at an address in the district. This district is where the polling booth has been
established and the certified roll has not been marked to indicate that ballot papers have
already been issued to an elector.
Postal Vote Electors who are away from their home State or Territory on polling day, or
unable to get to a polling place, may apply for and send a vote by post. In South Australia it
is also called a declaration vote.
Returning Officer The electoral officer responsible for conducting an election in an electoral
district.
Scrutiny The sorting, counting and rechecking of ballot papers following the close of polling.
Writ The legal document issued by the Governor authorising a general election or
referendum, specifying the dates by which various procedures must be completed. The
Speaker issues writs for House of Assembly by-elections.
31
Sources
The information contained in this paper drew on original research and material detailed in
South Australia Writs 1857-1997, State Electoral Office, 1999.
This report is based on material initially drawn together by the then State Electoral Office in
2005, and has been updated to reflect the 2006, 2010 and 2014 State Elections, as well as
all by-elections over that period.
32