Victoria’s Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel warns of foreign interference threats in the 2026 state election, including disinformation and potential sabotage, amid calls for stronger protections.
Victoria's Electoral Chief Warns of "Very Real" Foreign Meddling in 2026 Vote:
Victoria’s top election official has issued a stark warning about the potential for foreign interference in the state’s 2026 election, describing it as a “very real threat” that could undermine public confidence. Speaking in late November 2025, Sven Bluemmel, the Victorian Electoral Commissioner, pointed to sophisticated overseas operations and the spread of falsehoods online as key risks. This alert comes amid national concerns over AI-generated disinformation, cyberattacks, and data breaches, fueling demands for heightened scrutiny and investigations into possible meddling by foreign powers.
Bluemmel Warning and the VEC Battle Plan Against Foreign Meddling:
The warning emerged during an interview on ABC Radio National’s “The Radio National Hour” on November 25, 2025. Bluemmel emphasized that the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is actively preparing to counter threats from “sophisticated overseas actors” and domestic groups disseminating falsehoods via social media. He described foreign interference as a “very real threat” to the integrity of the upcoming state election.
This statement followed ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess’s annual threat assessment earlier in 2025, where he highlighted Australia’s vulnerability to “high impact sabotage” from foreign agents. Burgess noted probes into critical infrastructure, the AUKUS program, and political debates, underscoring a broader environment of risk. While Bluemmel focused on misinformation targeting the electoral process-such as false claims about voting procedures-he did not detail specific instances of AI use, hacking, or data leaks in Victoria. However, national discussions have linked these elements to foreign interference tactics.
The VEC anticipates a record number of early and postal votes for the 2026 poll, increasing vulnerability to manipulation. In response, the commission is deploying new monitoring systems to detect and debunk misleading content swiftly. The alert has sparked broader calls within political and security circles for proactive investigations into potential overseas involvement, though no formal probes have been announced.
From Legacy Risks to Digital Threats:
Victoria’s 2026 state election, set for November 28, will see voters choose representatives for the Legislative Assembly and Council amid a politically charged atmosphere. The last election in 2022 was marked by conspiracy theories and challenges in managing postal votes, as noted by Bluemmel in earlier statements. These issues have evolved with technological advancements, amplifying risks from digital interference.
Australia has long grappled with foreign meddling concerns. Federal foreign interference laws, enacted in 2018, aim to prevent covert activities by overseas entities, but enforcement remains complex. ASIO’s 2025 reports revealed ongoing attempts by foreign powers-implicitly including China and Russia-to influence diaspora communities and political outcomes. For instance, in February 2025, ASIO and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) formed task forces to protect the federal election from similar threats, focusing on diaspora groups in electorates with high immigrant populations.
Globally, election interference has surged, with AI deepfakes and disinformation campaigns playing roles in contests like the U.S. 2024 presidential race and Venezuela’s 2026 disputes. In Australia, a Microsoft report from April 2025 warned of AI’s potential to erode trust in polls, citing deepfakes as a tool for spreading false narratives. Hacking incidents, such as those targeting political data in past cycles, add to the urgency-though no verified breaches have hit Victoria’s systems recently. This backdrop explains Bluemmel’s proactive stance, as the VEC seeks to modernize an Electoral Act deemed outdated for contemporary threats.
Undermined elections could erode democratic faith, especially in a state where over 4 million voters participate. Economic and social ripples might follow if confidence in institutions wanes, affecting everything from policy implementation to public engagement.