Electoral fraud laws may prevent multiple ballots, but there’s been nothing stopping a record number of people voting early at this federal election.

The Australian Electoral Commission predicts up to one million Victorians will cast their votes prior to election day, through pre-poll and postal votes. 

That figure is up from about 750,000 at the last federal election. 

AEC Victoria public awareness officer Dan Doherty said a more mobile society meant people wanted to get voting out of the way.

People also wanted to keep their Saturdays free for other events, he said.

“More people are working on Saturdays, we’re also an increasingly mobile society,” he said. “People might be out of their electorates.”

Queues have been reported outside Ballarat’s pre-poll location at St Andrew’s Hall in Dawson Street for the past two weeks, while candidates have noted an increase in people voting early.

Kate Lyons from Mount Helen said she was voting early because she had sport in Geelong on Saturday and it was easier to do it during the week.

“You’ve got the whole week to find a time to be able to do it rather than just being forced to find a time to do it on the day,” she said.

Early voting is open at St Andrew’s Hall until 6pm today and tomorrow.