Ex-cops join election security flying squad in major crackdown

The Victorian Electoral Commission has recruited a nearly 50-strong security squad to patrol booths from the start of early voting for this month’s state election.

The officers will call out intimidatory behaviour, disinformation tactics, possible dirty tricks, breaches of voters’ privacy and honest mistakes as part of a major security crackdown.

The commission is concerned that with large numbers of new candidates, inexperienced polling day volunteers may accidentally breach election laws.

With One Nation fielding more than 100 candidates, it is recruiting volunteers on the run, many with no election day experience.

The commission’s move is part of a security overhaul partially conducted because of the growing political tensions Australia-wide.

Leading political figures and senior police have called for a more moderate approach following federal MP Helen Haines being severely injured after she was struck by a car outside her Wangaratta office. Local man Brendan Nugent has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

On Tuesday, political leaders condemned the alleged violent attack on a One Nation volunteer who had confronted a teenager who was allegedly damaging a corflute outside his home in Torquay. Late last month, the husband of a Liberal candidate was also allegedly assaulted after approaching a man who was removing campaign signage.

The VEC is also implementing a cybersecurity strategy to thwart potential organised interference and privacy breaches, as well as looking for online election sabotage material.

“This may include cyber abuse targeting Australian adults, or content that promotes, incites, or instructs in matters of crime or violence through online channels,” it reports in its latest election update.

Two former senior police investigators have been training 38 field compliance officers and 10 team leaders. They will patrol polling booths and will be called to any flashpoints.

A Victorian Electoral Commission spokesperson told The Age: “Field compliance officers are part of a range of measures in place to maintain safety and ensure everyone plays by the rules at the state election.”

“Their training includes situational awareness, cultural awareness, conflict and de-escalation and electoral offences. Field compliance officers will be deployed at the commencement of early voting on Wednesday, November 18,” the spokesperson said.

The compliance officers include former police and local council officers.

The officers have been instructed to alert people if they inadvertently breach the Electoral Act. They have the power to demand names and addresses and will call the police if anyone needs to be ejected from a polling area.

They will also gather evidence for specialist investigators if prosecutions are launched.

Commission staff have already scouted polling booths looking for potential security and safety risks.

The VEC spokesperson said it had printed “handbooks for candidates, scrutineers, and for the first time a dedicated campaigner handbook, which includes information about behaviours that the community should expect from campaigners”.

In the commission’s published final service plan, it states: “For the 2026 state election, we will deploy compliance officers from hubs to monitor behaviour outside voting centres during the hours of voting. Officers may attend in response to reports of potential non-compliance or to remind participants of their legal obligations.

“Our focus will be on generating co-operation consistent with our constructive compliance approach and facilitating prompt escalation and referral for more complex matters that cannot be resolved locally.

“Voters have the right to vote free of interference or intimidation, see campaign material that is authorised and not misleading or deceptive, know that campaigner conduct at voting centres is regulated, cast a vote that is secret and secure.”