Liberal candidate for Black Amanda Wilson has accused Labor candidate Alex Dighton of intimidating behaviour at pre-polling booths

Claims of intimidation have marred the eve of the Black by-election. See the video.

• ‘Misleading’ fees and charges claim sparks row

The fight to replace former Opposition Leader David Speirs, has become increasingly bitter amid claims Labor’s candidate “intimidated” his female Liberal opponent.

Liberal candidate Amanda Wilson claimed she was speaking to a voter at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church polling station in Hallett Cove, when its alleged Labor’s Alex Dighton interjected, calling her a liar.

“To make a woman feel unsafe and harassed while I’m simply trying to talk to someone is unacceptable, and I’m not standing for it,” Ms Wilson said.

“He (Mr Dighton) was bullying and harassing me … so I’ve made a complaint to the Electoral Commission.

Stills from a video of Labor candidate Alex Dighton polling booth confrontation with a liberal volunteer.

“He was standing right next to me and saying other words that I can’t remember now, so I took out my camera to video it, because I thought that would be a way to stop him from his aggressive behaviour.”

Liberal MLC Ben Hood said he noticed Mr Dighton approach Ms Wilson after she had been speaking to a constituent.

“He seemed to be standing over Amanda and Amanda did seem to look quite intimidated by Alex,” he said.

“I felt it right to step in at that point to try and calm down the situation.

“I’m sort of saying to Alex that it’s not appropriate for him to be in Amanda’s space.”

It is understood the election officer at the polling station mediated the confrontation between the two candidates, maintaining a one metre distance between them.

Mr Dighton has denied behaving in an intimidating fashion, claiming the incident was a “desperate attempt to distract (voters) from the shambles of the Liberal Party”.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan agreed, claiming the Liberals were trying to distract voters from the Electoral Commissioner’s finding that claims of a 30 per cent increase in government fees and charges was misleading.

“What the Liberals don’t like is being caught out spreading false information and lies to the community,” he said.

“I think it speaks volumes that this is the way the Liberals would react to being caught red-handed telling lies to voters that they try to confect some sort of outrageous response.

“There is absolutely nothing in this.”

But Ms Wilson claims it was not the first time she had felt intimidated during the election campaign, saying she had to ask Mr Dighton to stop speaking over her, during a Radio Adelaide interview earlier in the week.

Ms Wilson said she was seeking an apology from Mr Dighton.

The Advertiser has contacted Mr Dighton for further comment.