Police search for man in punch-up at Browns Plains polling booth

A busy southside polling booth is now the centre of a police hunt after an election official was allegedly punched by a voter.

The busy Browns Plains booth on polling day.

THE fallout from the local government elections continues with police searching for a man who was allegedly involved in a pre-election scuffle at a busy southside booth.

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Police said a fight broke out at the busy Browns Plains booth on Friday, March 20 the week before the poll.

Voters at Browns Plains had to keep their distance but police said a fight still broke out after lunch.

They said a man, who had been at the Eastern Rd polling station earlier, got into an argument with an election official and a scuffle broke out.

The man was described as in his 60s, with grey hair, a beard, wearing shorts and a long-sleeved flannelette shirt.

A police report said the unknown man punched the official on the right shoulder and upturned some fold-up tables.

Containers filled with paperwork fell on the ground as a result and were damaged.

The 68-year-old official was allegedly punched before the man pushed over some signs.

Police were called to the booth which had been the site of a few verbal outbursts the campaign.

The booth was for voters in Divisions 7 or 8, which included the youngest candidate Jacob Heremaia, who complained about his opponent Kylie Slater handing out How to Vote Cards.

He was also the subject of complaints about his registered address on his election material and redirecting online traffic to his website from his opponents.

Both complaints were not substantiated by the ICEO, and Mr Heremaia denied the claims.

Police said they were looking for the man and hoped the public would help to find him.

The 68-year-old election official was not physically injured.