Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has accused the Australian Electoral Commission of encouraging pre-poll votes as he joins a growing number of federal politicians from both major parties who want the early voting period cut short.

The AEC denied it encouraged pre-polling at the recent federal election, saying its hands were tied by when the election was called and what legislation requires it to do.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher is "troubled that the AEC has chosen to adopt a policy of encouraging and facilitating pre-poll". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

A record 4.7 million of Australia's 16.4 million voters lodged their ballot in the three-week pre-poll period leading up to the May federal election, compared with 2.98 million in 2016.

"This election saw a record number of Australians casting their votes at pre-poll," Mr Fletcher wrote in a submission to the Parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the federal election. "This reflected specific decisions taken by the AEC to encourage pre-polling."