Narungga Seat Result Confirmed After 81 Ballots Tallied, No Change in Outcome
The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) has officially confirmed that the result in the regional seat of Narungga will not change, following the tallying of 81 previously uncounted ballot papers in Adelaide this morning. Acting Electoral Commissioner Leah McLay stated that the count was conducted to assess whether these newly located ballots, retrieved from the neighbouring district of Stuart, could have altered the outcome of the tightly contested race.
Details of the Ballot Count and Verification Process
McLay explained that the 81 ballot papers were opened in the presence of scrutineers to ensure transparency and accuracy. Of these, one was rejected and four were deemed informal, leaving 76 valid votes for further analysis. A two-party preferred count of these valid votes revealed that 46 were cast for One Nation candidate Chantelle Thomas and 30 for Liberal candidate Tania Stock.
McLay further clarified that if these ballot papers had been included in the original count and subsequent recount, Thomas' winning margin would have increased from 58 votes to 74. However, she concluded that this adjustment does not change the overall result, stating, "I have therefore determined that the result in Narungga would not have differed had the ballots been included."
Background on the Discovery and Electoral Scrutiny
The ballots were discovered earlier this week inside three sealed boxes, which prompted scrutiny of ECSA's handling processes and triggered this additional verification count. This incident has raised questions about electoral procedures, though the commission has maintained that the integrity of the result remains intact.
The Narungga contest has been one of the closest races in the 2026 state election, with One Nation securing the seat after a recount last week. The discovery of these ballots added a layer of complexity to an already tense electoral environment, but the final confirmation provides closure to the matter.
One Nation's Chantelle Thomas has retained her lead in the South Australian regional seat of Narungga, reinforcing her position as the elected representative. The Electoral Commission's thorough review underscores its commitment to accuracy and transparency in the electoral process, ensuring public confidence in the democratic outcome.
