About one million people are set to cast their ballots to decide the next state government of SA. Source: AAP
SOUTH Australians are facing the possibility of a hung parliament with the latest opinion polls suggesting the vote was tightening as ballots were cast in the state election.
The Liberals need to win six seats to govern in their own right and end 12 years of Labor rule.
But as little as three seats could allow the opposition to form a minority government, with the support of three independents.
The latest Newspoll quizzed 1602 voters late this week and put the Liberals ahead 52.3 per cent to 47.7 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
However, Premier Jay Weatherill held a six-point lead over Opposition Leader Steven Marshall as preferred premier.
Labor would also be buoyed by the fact that it held onto power in 2010 with just 48 per cent of the statewide vote.
Mr Weatherill cast his ballot at a local primary school in his electorate early on Saturday and said he remained focussed on forming a majority government and had not begun discussions with any of the independents.
At least one of those, Don Pegler in Mt Gambier, also faces strong challenge from the Liberals to hold his seat.
Once the counting began, the premier said the focus would be on a number of electorates, including the six the party held on a margin of less than three per cent.
"Obviously there are a range of seats that are going to be battleground seats. A large number of them this time," he said.
But the premier said he was relaxed and satisfied with Labor's campaign.
"I couldn't imagine being able to do more to present our case. It's now up to the people of South Australia to make a judgment about that."
Mr Weatherill again refused to comment on his won future should Labor lose.
Mr Marshall also cast his vote a primary school, after taking his teenage daughter to a rowing event at 7.30am (CST), before hitting the hustings again.
The opposition leader again refused to rule out doing a deal with the independents if there was a hung parliament, despite also criticising the political landscape in Canberra following the 2010 federal election when Julia Gillard formed a minority government.
"I've never ruled that out but I do say that it would be great for a government to govern in their own right here in South Australia," Mr Marshall said.
"We have seen a very messy situation in Canberra. I don't think it would be good for South Australia."
Mr Marshall was also wary of Labor's ability to campaign in a tight contest after the government was returned to office at the last election by sandbagging key marginal seats.
"Obviously Labor are a very capable marginal seat campaigning machine but I think this time we've had some excellent candidates, we've been well resourced, we've run a good quality marginal seat campaign ourselves," he said.
Just over 1.1 million South Australians were enrolled to vote with about 70,000 of those casting their ballots early at voting centres across the state.
About 86,000 people were also expected to lodge postal votes.
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