Almost 200 incidents were reported to police related to the Northern Ireland council election campaign - including assault, harassment and intimidation of candidates and canvassers.
Police said they received 193 reports relating to the local government election campaign between April 4 and polling day on May 18, according to provisional figures.
The vast majority - 168 reports, or 87% - related to the theft, removal or damage of election posters.
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A smaller number of incidents were candidates or activists reporting intimidation, harassment, assault or anti-social behaviour linked to the campaign, police said.
Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said it was "unacceptable" for abuse to be targeted at anyone involved in the electoral process.
He said: "Any electoral process will have a broad range of views, and generate debate, but it is unacceptable when those involved in the political process become the subject of abuse.
"We are investigating each of these incidents and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure all candidates are able to participate fully in Northern Ireland elections free from harassment, intimidation and other forms of criminality."
Numerous candidates reported incidents such as their election posters being vandalised or stolen during the six-week local government election campaign.
Alliance Belfast councillor Michael Long last month said he was subjected to abuse and an assault by two men while canvassing in the Carncaver Road area of the city.
Police said the incident was being treated as a hate crime.
The DUP also condemned a death threat against Darren Leighton, a candidate for the party in the Botanic area of South Belfast.
Separately on election day, the party said Causeway Coast and Glens candidate Dawn Huggins was threatened and physically intimidated outside a polling station in Coleraine.
Police said a man aged in his seventies who was arrested following the report of an assault and was issued with a Community Resolution Notice.
Ahead of the election campaign, the PSNI and Electoral Commission published guidance for candidates who face harassment, intimidation and abuse.
The document, Joint Guidance for Candidates in Elections - When it goes too far, was also developed with the assistance of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and the Public Prosecution Service.
It followed concerns raised over threats and intimidation during last year's Assembly election campaign.
Some election candidates reported their posters being stolen or burnt down.
A window was also smashed at UUP leader Doug Beattie's constituency office in Portadown within hours of his decision to withdraw from contentious rallies against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
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