Material bought for same-sex marriage vote

Taxpayers' money has been spent on the same-sex marriage plebiscite, which was killed off in the Senate in November.

Taxpayers' money has been spent on the same-sex marriage plebiscite. (AAP)

The Australian Electoral Commission has ordered materials for the same-sex marriage plebiscite, despite the national vote not going ahead.

The commission told a Senate committee it had ordered a range of materials including polling equipment, stationery, declaration vote envelope paper and identification products for polling officials in October.

However, no figure was put on how much money was spent.

The plebiscite - which was killed off by Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch in November - was due to cost taxpayers upwards of $170 million.

The AEC also revealed it had set procurement dates for a range of other plebiscite materials including handbooks, ballot storage boxes and signs.

Greens spokeswoman Senator Janet Rice said the AEC's hands were tied by the Turnbull government.

"The government was intent on pouring millions down the drain for their divisive opinion poll," she told AAP.

"Even when it was clear the plebiscite was doomed, the AEC was forced to go ahead with orders of materials."