Election volunteers are calling for reforms to make polls safer for candidates and voters, warning harassment and intimidation is rife on the hustings.

Volunteers who worked on a political campaign in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong, where independent Monique Ryan narrowly held off a challenge by the Liberals, said pre-polling became unsafe due to unsuitable venues, aggressive signage and overcrowding.

The volunteers, of an unspecified candidate due to redactions, also detailed standover tactics and physical and verbal attacks in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the 2025 federal election.

"We are concerned that the 2025 election crossed a line from peaceful disagreement to dangerous polarisation," the submission said.

"Candidates, their volunteers and even voters were mocked,

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