Five candidates are vying for votes in the state seat of Bathurst. 

Mount Colah woman Narelle Rigby, from the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group), has the coveted top spot on the ballot paper.

Following her are the three local candidates: Country Labor’s Cass Coleman, the Nationals’ Paul Toole, then The Greens’ Tracey Carpenter. 

In fifth and final spot on the ballot paper is Tom Cripps, from Smithfield in Sydney, from the No Land Tax party.

The Oberon Visitor Information Centre will be open for pre-poll voting from 8am to 8pm today and 8am to 6pm tomorrow.

Voting hours on election day, Saturday, will be 8am to 6pm at Black Springs Public School in Avoca Street, Black Springs; Oberon High School in Ross Street, Oberon; and O’Connell Public School at 15 Black Mill Lane, O’Connell. 

Bathurst returning officer Stuart Evennett said the most common reason for people to cast a pre-poll vote is that they will be working or will be away from the region on the day of the election.

At a pre-election forum held earlier this month, Ms Coleman criticised the Coalition’s plan to sell off the state’s electricity network, saying it would be a “$20 billion sugar hit”, while Mr Toole said the Coalition government had made NSW the number one state again by making some tough decisions. 

Ms Carpenter, meanwhile, questioned the motives behind some local spending from the Coalition.

“As lovely as the Mayfield Garden is ... it is largely a private garden and The Greens would not have spent $1.6 million sealing the road to Mayfield Garden for its owner,” Ms Carpenter said.