A change in rules has seen a deluge of voters already having made their choice in the Victorian election in Benambra

The figure, which is to the close of business on Monday, almost eclipses the 12,377 total recorded at the last election in 2014.

With four more days of prepolling, including extended hours on Thursday, the tally for early voting is likely to be 18,000-plus, which equates to about 37 per cent of the electorate, compared to 30 per cent four years ago.

The jump has been driven by a change in rules that allows anyone to vote without having to declare why they could not do so on election day.

As voting unfolded on Monday afternoon at the prepolling centre at the former ANZ bank branch in Wodonga’s High Street, a council parking officer confronted Labor Party candidate Mark Tait over his shade tent.

Mr Tait said he was told to pull the structure down as it overhung the roadway.

It had been on the footpath before being moved to comply with a Victorian Electoral Commission rule banning items within six metres of the prepolling centre’s entrance.

Mr Tait said he had now applied for a $36 council permit to allow the tent to remain and expected an answer from the city on Tuesday.

Five of the six candidates for Benambra spent time outside the prepolling centre on Monday.

Incumbent Bill Tilley said he had not altered his campaign to account for more early voters.

“The prepoll is now a week shorter but understandably the increase is because people don’t have to make that declaration,” he said.

The Liberal MP has “no preference” on the rule, but expects a parliamentary review given the impact.