NSW Election 2023: Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns make last ditch push to win close election
As millions of people prepare to cast their ballots in one of the closest state elections in NSW history, almost a quarter of those eligible have already voted.
Polling booths will receive more than four million ballots in New South Wales on March 25 after 1,199,121 of the 5,521,688 eligible residents voted and 92,077 cast their ballots by post, as of Friday night.
The election is expected to be the closest in decades with state premier Dominic Perrottet and opposition leader Chris Minns spending the final day of campaigning visiting provisional seats in the Sydney metropolitan area.
The NSW Labor Party will need to bring nine electorates back to the party to win the election and crown Minns the 47th state premier.
Voting in the upcoming election is required for all residents over the age of 18 and those who do not comply will be fined $55.
More than 4 million people are ready to cast their ballots in NSW on March 25 in one of the closest state elections in history after more than 1 million voted early (pictured, stock)
Residents can visit polling places from 8 am to 6 pm on March 25 and can find their nearest polling place at NSW Electoral Commission website.
There are accessibility options at polling places and information on how to vote in 27 different languages, including Auslan, the Australian Sign Language.
Assisted voting by phone is also available for people who are blind or have low vision.
“Support is available to voters and I encourage voters to access the many services available,” said John Schmidt, NSW election commissioner.
Vote counting will continue until around 10:30 p.m. on March 25, with uncounted votes counted the following Monday.
People who are not registered to vote in NSW, but are eligible to register, can still register on the day and complete what is known as a declaration vote.
To complete a statement vote, residents will need to attend a vote center in person with a photo ID showing their current address.
If NSW residents are on the interstate or abroad during the election period, they must either send in their ballot by post or have already voted at a previous polling station.
Dominic Perrottet (pictured) spent the last day of the campaign touring Sydney in a final effort to get the New South Wales Liberal Party to cross the line and keep him as state premier.
Both Perrottet and Minns have tried to secure final votes by convincing millions of Daily Mail Australia readers in the remaining hours of their campaigns.
Perrotet wrote that the NSW Liberal Party will take pressure off family budgets, increase home ownership and increase access to more health services at your local pharmacy, as well as a safe bank account for children in which your government will help invest.
“Only Liberals and Nationals have the long-term economic plan to support NSW families and keep NSW moving forward at a time when we understand no family can afford to go backwards under Labour,” Perrottet wrote. .
‘In these uncertain economic times, NSW families need a government that can provide real relief today and financial security tomorrow.
“Only we have the experience, great ideas and energy to ensure that support for families today and shape our state for a stronger future.”
On the other hand, Minns promised that the NSW Labor Party will overhaul the education system following a recent recession, tackle the cost of living crisis, improve health services and increase pay for essential workers.
“Only NSW Labor has a plan to provide real cost of living relief,” Minns wrote.
‘Whether you’re just starting out in life, raising a family, planning your retirement, or looking to take advantage of the opportunities ahead, I want your future to be the best it can be.
I know first hand how lucky we are to live in New South Wales. But this is not as good as it seems.
‘After 12 years under the Liberals, life is getting harder and harder for many.’
Chris Minns (pictured with his wife Anna) visited Ryde, Auburn and Parramatta on his last day, focusing on Western Sydney as an area where NSW Labor could swap seats and win the election.
By the end of Friday, the last day of the campaign, Perrottet had visited Willoughby, the North Shore, Penrith, Holsworthy, East Hills, Ryde, Oatley and Chris Minns’ fringe seat of Kogarah in the south-west of the city.
“Only Liberals and Nationals with a long-term economic plan to keep NSW moving forward,” he repeated throughout the day.
“We cannot risk a Labor government.”
As Perrottet made his way across town in a final move to get his party across the line, Chris Minns visited Liberal-owned Ryde and Parramatta and Labor-owned Auburn.
Mr Minns focused on Western Sydney as a potential space for NSW Labor to shift essential seats like Penrith and Parramatta.
He echoed one of the main pillars of his campaign, ending the privatization of public goods and giving more funding to public schools and hospitals.
“I think we can rebuild our schools and our hospitals and do it all without selling the assets that the people of this state need to run businesses to support their families and move around Sydney and NSW,” said Mr Minns.