Federal elections are often described as one of the largest and most complex peacetime logistical events in Australia. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has one of the most comprehensive election service offerings in the world, underpinned by a commitment to operational excellence and a continued focus on electoral integrity. 

The 2025 federal election was the AEC’s most complex election to-date, with the highest ever enrolment rate and more voting venues available than ever before – both within Australia and overseas. This election also saw the largest ever number of votes counted on polling night, highly complex count scenarios and several close seats including two recounts. Delivering an event of this scale was a huge operational and logistical undertaking, however one of the most significant challenges that the AEC encountered during the 2025 federal election was the evolving communications environment and the risk this posed to electoral integrity. 

There was an obvious increase in the use of social media, both from a public engagement perspective but also by electoral participants to distribute electoral information. A small amount of artificial intelligence was observed across the electoral landscape and the increased uptake of AI presents a looming challenge to future elections, as does the normalisation of mis and disinformation. The use of podcasters, influencers and content creators by candidates and political parties also further emerged at this election.  

This complicated information environment drove some social cohesion issues in some pockets of the community around some polling place, including behaviours that jeopardised the physical security of participants in the electoral process. And threats of potential foreign influence and interference continue to loom over democracies. The AEC, voters and all political participants were able to withstand all of these challenges at the 2025 federal election but there are clear signs of further challenging times ahead for the successful delivery of elections. With the AEC’s focus now turning to the future, and as the electoral landscape in Australia and globally continues to rapidly evolve, the one thing that remains clear is the importance of continuing to invest in achieving the highest possible level of electoral integrity. Our wonderful democracy deserves and demands it.  

Mr Jeff Pope APM was appointed the Acting Electoral Commissioner in December 2024, having previously served as the long-standing Deputy Electoral Commissioner. Mr Pope joined the AEC in 2013 and delivered the 2013 and 2016 federal elections as the State Manager (and Australian Electoral Officer) for Victoria. 

Mr Pope was appointed as Deputy Electoral Commissioner in December 2016 and was successfully reappointed to the role in December 2021. As Deputy Commissioner, he guided the AEC through an unprecedented period of change to successfully deliver multiple federal events, including the 2023 referendum. He was involved in several key AEC initiatives, including the development of the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce which he chaired for 5 years.

 Prior to joining the AEC, Mr Pope worked in various roles in law enforcement for over 23 years. In 2013, he concluded his law enforcement career as an Assistant Commissioner with Victoria Police. He was awarded an Australian Police Medal for his outstanding contribution to law enforcement. Mr Pope holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has attended the Executive Management Program at Insead Business School in Singapore.