Polls open in tight NSW state election

Polling day has arrived for NSW and the choice, for many voters, could hinge on infrastructure, stadiums and guns.

Michael Daley and Gladys Berejiklian.

Michael Daley and Gladys Berejiklian on NSW election morning. Source: AAP

Gladys Berejiklian concedes the race to victory in the NSW election will be tight, as she seeks to become the state's first ever popularly-elected female premier.

Voting opened at more than 2200 polling booths across the state at 8am on Saturday, with more than four million people expected to cast their vote.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian casts her vote at Willoughby Public School on 2019 New South Wales election day in Sydney, Saturday, 23 March 2019. New South Wales voters head to the polls in the state election today. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian casts her vote at Willoughby Public School on 2019 New South Wales election day in Sydney, Saturday, 23 March 2019. Source: AAP
More than 1.3 million have already made their decision and voted early, in what's tipped to be one of the closest elections in decades.

A special Newspoll, published in The Weekend Australian, suggested the coalition is ahead of Labor 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.

The Liberal-Nationals hold 52 seats in the lower house. Gladys Berejiklian will need to only lose six seats to relinquish her majority.

Labor will need to pick up 13 seats to clinch an outright majority in the 93-seat chamber.

Ms Berejiklian, who cast her vote at Willoughby Public School just before 9am, suggested a minority government wouldn't be a good result for NSW.

"It is going to be a tight race but it is up to the people of NSW to decide," she told reporters outside the school.

"I hope they will decide to allow my government to continue to take NSW forward and provide a strong budget, a strong economy and not allow us to go backwards."

Labor leader Michael Daley started his day with a meat pie and strawberry milk at a Matraville pie shop - a tradition since he ran for local council in 1995.
NSW elections
NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley meets with members of the Health Services Union (HSU) during a stop at the Nepean Hospital, Friday 22nd March. Source: AAP
He said he and his team have been campaigning hard and have listened to people in every corner of the state.

"That is the difference between chaotic government," Mr Daley told Seven's Sunrise before casting his vote at Chifley Public School.

"We like and listen to people. We will put people first."

Polling booths close at 6pm on Saturday. Online and telephone voting also closes at 6pm, however people need to register by 1pm.

The iVote system crashed on Friday, frustrating those unable to reach a polling centre on Saturday.

Nevertheless, more than 207,000 people still managed to vote using the system.

About one million voted in person at pre-poll centres, with more than 82,700 received via post and a further 13,700 at mobile centres in nursing homes, aged care facilities and hospitals.


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Presented by Justin Sungil Park

Source: AAP



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