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NSW State election – more than 2000 voting centres open from 8am – 6pm

The NSW Electoral Commission has sent out 540,208 postal voting packs to eligible electors across NSW, Australia and overseas.

NSW Electoral Commissioner John Schmidt said many voters across NSW had planned how they would vote ahead of election day and could still vote early if eligible.

“Voting centres are open across NSW for people who are eligible to vote early,” he said. “Voters can check our website for centre locations and opening times.”

“For electors planning to vote on election day Saturday, 25 March, we’ll have around 2,000 voting centres open across NSW from 8am to 6pm.”

“Voters can find their nearest voting centre and candidates using the Find my electorate tool on the NSW Electoral Commission website.”

Mr Schmidt reminds electors that there is information on the NSW Electoral Commission website about voting for the first time and assistance available to voters at voting centres as well as information in 27 languages including Auslan.

“Support is available for electors, and I encourage voters to access the many services available.”

“If you are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment, please contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 1300 135 736.”

“Auslan interpreters will also be available on election day by contacting us through Skype on NSWelections Auslan or NSWelections Auslan2.”

Mr Schmidt said voting at the NSW State election is compulsory for people enrolled in New South Wales.

“Voting closes at 6pm on Saturday, 25 March. Penalties apply for failing to vote,” he said.  
Postal vote applications have closed. To be counted, postal votes must be completed by 6pm on election day and received by the NSW Electoral Commission no later than 6pm on Thursday, 6 April.   

Final results for the 2023 NSW State election cannot be confirmed until all votes have been counted. 

Counting and results  

Counting progress will be available live through the Virtual Tally Room on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website after 6pm on election night until counting is completed. Information about how votes are counted in state elections is available on our website.   

Count timeline

  • For staff and scrutineers' work health and safety, counting will cease on election night by 10:30pm. Following the cessation of counting, all other activities at voting centres on election night are scheduled to finish no later than 12.30 am on Sunday morning.

  • The Virtual Tally Room will be live on election night from 6pm and will include: 

    • LA initial counts for voting centres, some early voting centres and the first progressive count of postal votes 

    • LA two candidate preferred counts for voting centres, some early voting centres and the first progressive count of postal votes 

    • LC initial sort for voting centres, some early voting centres and the first progressive count of postal votes 

  • Any counts not completed on election night will continue on the Monday following the election 

  • No counts will be conducted on Sunday 

  • Wednesday, 12 April - Estimated completion of check counts for Legislative Assembly districts 

  • Thursday, 13 April - Estimated distribution of preferences for each district  

  • Friday, 14 April - Estimated declaration of results for each Legislative Assembly district 

  • Thursday, 20 April – Estimated declaration of results for the Legislative Council  

For more information about counting and results, you can view the recording of our webinar on the topic.

For more information about the 2023 NSW State election, go to elections.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 135 736.