The word "independent" should be placed next to candidates' names on election ballot papers if they do not belong to a political party, the former campaign manager of Jacqui Hawkins has argued.
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Jill Briggs made the suggestion as part of a submission into the state government's "conduct of the 2018 Victorian state election" inquiry.
The ballot paper at last year's election listed candidates' names next to their political parties, such as Bill Tilley - Liberal Party.
Ms Hawkins had nothing next to her name because she was not affiliated with a party, which Ms Briggs said was "an inaccurate representation of the candidate".
"I would request that the VEC develop ballot papers that clearly articulate 'independent' next to the name of candidates who are 'independent', this will be an accurate ballot paper," she said.
"This addition will ensure more informed voting and a ballot paper which reflects the field of candidates."
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Ms Hawkins heavily reduced Mr Tilley's winning margin in Benambra at last year's election, taking 47.6 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote to his 52.4 per cent.
Mr Tilley agreed with Ms Briggs that the word "independent" should be on ballot papers, but for different reasons.
He pointed to to the fact Ms Hawkins' had previously worked for then-Indi MP Cathy McGowan, who in turn helped campaign for her at election booths.
"I would say hallelujah for some transparency when it comes to political candidates," he said.
"They were clearly representative of a movement united by political opinion of more than 500 people and that is included in the definition of a political party in Victoria."
Voices for Indi - the political group which chose Ms McGowan and Helen Haines as the region's federal independent candidates - did not officially endorse a Victorian election candidate, but some of its members helped campaign for Ms Hawkins and Indigo councillor Jenny O'Connor as independents.
"We now have one of the failed independents, working for another independent in the state Parliament," Mr Tilley said.
"It's a network, it's a party and people should know that before they vote.
"They should also be put under the same scrutiny as political parties."
As part of her inquiry submission, Ms Briggs also asked the Victorian Electoral Commission to review the rules on candidates and volunteers approaching voters at polling booths.
"The gauntlet that is formed by the candidates and volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards can, in some cases, be completely daunting," she said.
"I witnessed a number of voters visibly distressed and in one instance heard the story from an individual who suffered from anxiety and found the whole 'running the gauntlet' completely overwhelming to the point of suffering the fine rather than vote."
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy made his own submission to the inquiry, saying it was unrealistic for Yarrawonga to have a pre-poll, then have two polling booths on election day.
"A better option could be either pre-poll at Yarrawonga and one booth on election day, or pre-poll at Cobram and two booths at Yarrawonga on election day," she said.
"Cobram seems to be under resourced and Yarrawonga over resourced - Cobram has a queue all day on election day, while Yarrawonga are fairly quiet all day."
The Victorian Parliament's Electoral Matters Committee will assess whether there were any impediments that make it difficult for people to vote and look at measures which could help reduce the incidence of informal voting.
Submissions can be made at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/2018electioninquiry until Friday.
