Colonial elections were held in South Australia on 20/21 September 1855.

Only 16 of the 24 seats in the unicameral Legislative Council were popularly elected, the second occurrence of voting franchise in the colony.

The election resulted in violence on 20 September 1855 in Hindley Street between opponents and supporters of Anthony Forster, editor and part-owner of the South Australian Register and also one of the candidates for election.

A consequence of the violence was the introduction of secret ballots from the following election.

The first six Governors of South Australia oversaw governance from proclamation in 1836 until self-government in 1857.