A new system of checking registered voters for weekend by-elections in Adelaide worked well, says the South Australian Electoral Commission.

Port Adelaide and Ramsay voters were sent a registration card, which could be swiped at the polling booth as identification.

Electronic swiping took the system a step further than was used previously.

Electoral Commissioner Kay Mousley says the cards helped speed-up the voting process.

"There were no complaints throughout the day, no problems with it, and the fact that some were reporting up to 90 per cent turnout rate with their easy voting cards is absolutely fantastic," she said.

Despite a swing away from Labor, Zoe Bettison comfortably held Ramsay for the party, after Mike Rann's retirement.

"By-elections by their very nature are quite challenging and we have been in government 10 years," she said.

"People often like to send government a message."

She says her focus will be on education, training and employment opportunities in her electorate.

"We have a large manufacturing base, people employed in manufacturing here in Ramsay and we have some challenges in that area so I'll be working with Premier Jay Weatherill to get the best outcome for South Australia and for the people of Ramsay," she said.

"We never took this seat for granted and through the history and you look at by-elections it was unlikely we were probably going to get a swing [to the ALP] so I think it was what I expected."

Now marginal

Mayor Gary Johanson pushed Labor in Port Adelaide, turning the safe seat into a marginal one. Results

The independent is not yet conceding he has lost to Labor candidate Susan Close, in the seat formerly held by Kevin Foley.

Mr Johanson says the voters of Port Adelaide will benefit from it no longer being a safe Labor seat.

"This was a huge win for the community. This is a chance for the community ... to once and for all show the Government that they can not be ignored and taken for granted," he said.

So I consider this a huge victory for the community, it's not about me."

Mr Johanson thinks the big anti-Labor swing in Port Adelaide result reflects badly on new Premier Jay Weatherill.

"It is a showing that the left of the Labor Party aren't ready to lead," he said.

"I think the right would have done a better job and I have friends in the left and the right of the Labor Party but I think that some of the left leanings are too left for the ordinary people."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 3 minutes 15 seconds 3 m 15 s SA Premier Jay Weatherill talks to 891 ABC about swings against Labor in two weekend by-elections ( ABC Radio ) Download 1.5 MB

The Premier says he takes full responsibility for the by-election outcomes and knows Labor must work hard to win back elements of its core constituency.

Labor's Susan Close has made clear what she will continue to do.

"We have listened and listened and listened and I must tell you because of this result most particularly we have heard how people are feeling," she said.

South Australian Liberal leader Isobel Redmond said there was a far better chance of an upset in the Port Adelaide by-election by her party not standing a candidate.

"I think most Liberal supporters realise that our best interests were served by not running a candidate and giving an alternative to Labor the best chance of winning," she said.

"All the polling showed that."