More than 18,000 people have been asked to explain why they apparently voted more than once at the federal election.
Despite heavy fines and the risk of jail time for multiple voting, two people were marked off the electoral roll 11 times on July 2.
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A further two people had their names marked off five times, while four others had four marks and 51 people had three marks.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday night 18,343 people have been asked to explain why their name was checked off more than once, with many expected to be in error.
NSW, the most populous state, recorded 6760 instances of apparent multiple voting, compared with 4800 in Victoria and 2792 in Queensland.
The Northern Territory recorded the fewest instances with 178.
Despite nearly 8000 cases of suspected voting fraud at the 2013 federal election, not a single person was prosecuted for multiple voting – including those who admitted to casting more than one ballot.
Of the 7743 suspect cases referred to the Australian Federal Police that year, just 65 were investigated and none progressed to a conviction.
![Two voters appear to have voted early and voted often after they were marked off the electoral roll 11 times.](/web/20161020203527im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/x/1/x/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs5cal.png/1476888141402.jpg)
The Commonwealth Electoral Act allows for fines of $10,800 or up to a year in jail for people convicted of multiple votes. Anyone found to have impersonated someone else at the ballot box faces up to six months in jail or a fine of $1800.
Before this year's election the AEC wrote to more than 4600 people with a prior history of apparent multiple voting to remind them of the law.
![Ballot boxes at the 2016 federal election.](/web/20161020203527im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/x/3/9/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs5cal.png/1476888141402.jpg)
Mr Rogers said individuals who had two or more marks next to their name at the past two elections were sent warning letters.
"We wrote to a select group of people we thought may be at risk of not understanding their obligations under the Electoral Act," he said.
"We've never done that before.
"That was an attempt to demonstrate the seriousness with which we treat this particular issue."
AEC officials will assess how many recipients of the letters are among those recorded as having their name marked off more than once.
Mr Roberts told the hearing he was determined to fix long queues at voting places before voters return to the polls. Long lines were reported in a number of states, caused by an increase in the number of questions voters asked and longer time needed to fill in ballots.
Earlier he said the AEC has begun some preparations for the planned same-sex marriage plebiscite, despite required legislation being unlikely to make it through Parliament.
Some supplies have been purchased for the national vote but they could be used for other elections if the February 11 plebiscite does not go ahead.
Major purchasing decisions, including paper to print ballots, would need to be made by mid-December if the vote is to go ahead on the government's planned timeline.
Mr Rogers said there had been no instructions from the Turnbull government to stop preparing for the plebiscite despite its uncertain political fate.
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