Lawyers for independent candidate Oliver Yates confirmed to AAP they are "actively considering" taking a case to the Court of Disputed Returns, now that the writ for the election has been returned.

The formal writ return started the 40-day time period for the lodging of election-related challenges.

Mr Yates, who took on Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the Melbourne seat, has set up an "integrity fighting fund" to raise money for the action.

"I saw so much misleading advertising and documents during the election that you have to wonder how any voter could make a sensible decision," he wrote on his website.

The key complaint relates to Chinese language signs, using the same colour scheme as that used in Australian Electoral Commission material, which told voters "the correct voting method" was to put a "1" next to the Liberal candidate and then number from "small to large in the rest of the squares".

The signs carried a small-print Liberal Party authorisation note.

On election day the AEC said it would not take action because the signs were authorised and there were no rules around colour schemes.

However, the Electoral Act says, in Section 329: "A person shall not ... print, publish or distribute, or cause, permit or authorise to be printed, published or distributed, any matter or thing that is likely to mislead or deceive an elector in relation to the casting of a vote."

As well, there is a potential breach of laws passed in 2018 making it a criminal offence to impersonate a commonwealth entity, company or service - in the wake of Labor's "Mediscare" text message campaign.

The AEC argues the ban on "misleading and deceptive conduct" only concerns conduct which affects the process of casting a vote, not the formation of a political judgment.

But Mr Yates' legal advice says this is misguided.

There was a real risk some voters may have thought their vote would be invalid if they did not mark "1" next to the Liberal candidate, according to lawyer Michael Bradley from Marque Lawyers.

"The fact that it was in Chinese language, and therefore clearly directed to a specific minority group of voters with a higher than average likelihood of having poor English language skills and a higher than average likelihood of having a poor understanding of the voting process, is highly relevant."

It is understood candidates in Chisholm are also weighing up their legal options, as the signs were also used there.

Australian Associated Press