NSW Election 2023: Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns make last-ditch effort to win tight election

As millions prepare to cast their ballots in one of the tightest state elections in NSW history, nearly a quarter of eligible voters have already voted.

Election booths will receive more than four million votes in NSW on March 25, after 1,199,121 of the 5,521,688 eligible residents voted and 92,077 cast their votes via mail-in voting, as of Friday evening.

The election will be the closest in decades, with Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet and Opposition Leader Chris Minns spending the final day of their campaign visiting swing seats in the greater Sydney area.

The NSW Labor Party will need to return nine voters to the party to win the election and crown Mr Minns as the 47th state prime minister.

Voting in the upcoming election is mandatory for all residents over the age of 18, and those who fail to comply face a $55 fine.

Residents can visit a polling place on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can find the nearest voting center at the NSW Electoral Commission website.

There are accessibility options at polling stations and information on how to vote in 27 different languages, including Auslan, Australian Sign Language.

Voting by telephone is also possible for people who are blind or visually impaired.

“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 approximately 10:30 p.m. on March 25, with uncounted votes attended 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 an explanation of vote, residents must go to a voting center in person with photo ID showing their current address.

If NSW residents are interstate or overseas during the election period, they must either submit their ballot by mail or have already voted at a pre-poll centre.

Dominic Perrottet (pictured) spent the last day of his campaign criss-crossing Sydney in a final push to win over the NSW Liberal Party and keep him as state premier

Both Mr Perrottet and Mr Minns have been trying to secure the final votes by convincing millions of Daily Mail Australia readers in the remaining hours of their campaigns.

Mr Perrotet wrote that the NSW Liberal Party will ease the strain on household budgets, increase home ownership and improve access to more health services at your local pharmacy, as well as a safe bank account for children that their government will help invest in.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals have the long-term economic plan to support NSW families and move NSW forward at a time when we understand no family can afford to go backwards under Labour,” Mr Perrottet wrote.

“In these uncertain economic times, NSW families need a government that can provide real help today, and financial security tomorrow.

“Only we have the experience, big ideas and energy to ensure that support for families today and prepare our state for a stronger future.”

On the other hand, Mr Minns promised that the NSW Labor Party will overhaul the education system after a recent downturn, address the cost of living crisis, improve health services and raise the wages of essential workers.

“Only NSW Labor has a plan to really ease the cost of living,” Mr Minns wrote.

“Whether you are just starting your life, starting a family, planning your retirement or want to take advantage of the opportunities that lie 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 isn’t as good as it gets.

“After 12 years under the Liberals, life is becoming increasingly difficult for many.”

Chris Minns (pictured with his wife Anna) visited Ryde, Auburn and Parramatta on his last day, targeting Western Sydney as an area where NSW Labor could turn the tables and win the election

By the end of Friday, the last day of the campaign, Mr. Perrottet had visited Willoughby, North Shore, Penrith, Holsworthy, East Hills, Ryde, Oatley and Chris Minns’ marginal seat of Kogarah in the southwest of the town.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals with a long-term economic plan to move NSW forward,” he repeated throughout the day.

“We can’t risk a Labor government.”

While Perrottet criss-crossed the city in a last-ditch gamble to get his party over the line, Chris Minns visited Liberal Ryde and Parramatta and Labor-held Auburn.

Mr Minns targeted Western Sydney as a potential space for NSW Labor to flip essential seats such as Penrith and Parramatta.

He reiterated one of his key campaign cornerstones, ending the privatization of public assets and giving more money to public schools and hospitals.

“I believe we can rebuild our schools and our hospitals and do it all without selling the assets that people in this state need to run businesses, run their families and move around Sydney and NSW,” said Mr. Minns.