A Coalition MP has urged a reassessment of pre-poll voting arrangements at federal elections in response to growing security concerns following the attack on independent MP Helen Haines. The incident, which left Haines in a serious but stable condition after the amputation of both her legs, has renewed focus on the safety of voters, volunteers, and election staff.

Garth Hamilton, the LNP member for the Queensland electorate of Groom, highlighted the risks posed by having voters and volunteers gathered near car parks or roads at early voting locations. Drawing on his experience from three elections, Hamilton pointed to multiple incidents involving cars and people at pre-poll sites, including one he described as a deliberate threat. “The potential is already there in a heightened environment,” he said.

Pre-poll voting booths typically open between one and two weeks before election day, with over 9 million votes—56% of total ballots—cast early in the 2025 federal election, according to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Hamilton suggested that the length of the early voting period, the distribution of resources at polling centers, and the use of postal voting should be reviewed to mitigate risks. He emphasized the need to balance voter access with safety, stating, “We want to make sure that it’s done in a safe way.”

The issue has also been raised by Labor MP Jerome Laxale, chair of the parliamentary inquiry into the 2025 election, who brought the topic to his party’s caucus meeting. The inquiry’s interim report calls for the AEC to examine its resourcing and pre-poll voting duration, given the increasing number of early voters. However, the AEC cautioned that shortening the pre-poll period could backfire by concentrating demand into fewer days, potentially leading to longer queues and venue shortages, thereby increasing operational risks.

Laxale underscored the importance of a secure and welcoming environment at polling stations. “Democracy doesn’t collapse, it just crumbles,” he said, warning that voter intimidation could discourage participation and undermine democratic processes. His sentiments were echoed by other submissions to the inquiry, which documented incidents of neo-Nazis attending booths with loudspeakers, volunteers being harassed, and voters leaving distressed.

Independent MP Monique Ryan called for clear guidance on how candidates, volunteers, and campaign workers should liaise with federal and state police when facing threats. She advocated for a return to a more community-focused, low-threat atmosphere at the polls. “We need to go back to democracy sausages and bake sales, not voters feeling intimidated and harassed as they approach polling booths,” Ryan said.

The ongoing debate highlights the challenge of maintaining both broad electoral participation and a safe voting environment amid a climate of escalating tensions and security concerns.