We're only a couple of days away from heading to the polling booths, as Cessnock residents cast their vote in the NSW election on Saturday, March 25.
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The state electorate of Cessnock covers 2,019 square kilometres and has 56,705 people enrolled.
It stretches to Edgeworth in the east, Bucketty in the south, Yengo in the west and Greta in the north.
Cessnock's border with the Upper Hunter electorate changed in 2021, and Branxton, Broke and Appletree Clearing are now in the Upper Hunter electorate.
The border changed after a redistribution of electoral boundaries, which is carried out regularly after two state general elections have happened using the same boundaries.
The redistribution is to make sure each electoral district across the state has an equal number of voters.
What are you voting for?
NSW is divided into 93 state electoral districts.
Voters in each district will elect one person to represent their district in the Legislative Assembly (lower house). These members of parliament represent their electorates for a term of four years.
Voters will also need to elect 21 of the 42 members of the Legislative Council (upper house). Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) are elected for a term of eight years. The Legislative Council is often called the 'House of Review' because of its role in scrutinising government legislation and holding the government to account.
Residents will be required to submit two ballot papers in the March 25 election, selecting a member for the Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council representative.
The NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) Virtual Tally Room (VTR) will contain results for the 2023 Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Elections and will go live on election day.
Early voting
There are three places to vote early across Cessnock. All are open from 8.30am to 8pm Thursday and 8.30am to 6pm Friday.
- Cessnock Election Manager's Office; 7 and 9/ 195 Wollombi Road, Cessnock.
- Kurri Kurri Senior Citizen's Hall; 132 Barton Street, Kurri Kurri.
- Pasterfield Sports Complex; 18 Horizon Avenue, Cameron Park.
Where to vote on election day
All polling booths are open from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, March 25.
There are 28 voting centres across Cessnock, which are:
- Abermain Plaza Hall, Bathurst Steet, Abermain NSW 2326. Assisted access, Access ramp does not meet standards, No accessible toilet
- Barnsley Public School, Cliffbrook Street, Barnsley NSW 2278. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- Bellbird Public School, Doyle Street, Bellbird NSW 2325. Assisted access, No accessible toilet
- Branxton Community Hall, Bowen Street, Branxton NSW 2335. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Cameron Park Community Centre, 107 Northlakes Drive, Cameron Park NSW 2285. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Cessnock East Public School, Old Maitland Road, Cessnock NSW 2325. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot, Path of travel from car park may be difficult, No accessible toilet
- Cessnock Public School, Aberdare Road, Cessnock NSW 2325. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot
- Cessnock West Public, School Alfred Street, Cessnock West NSW 2325. Assisted access, No accessible toilet
- Edgeworth Heights Public School, Crest Avenue, Edgeworth NSW 2285. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Edgeworth Public School, Oakville Road, Edgeworth NSW 2285. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Ellalong Public School, Rugby Street, Ellalong NSW 2325. Assisted access, Path of travel from car park may be difficult, Building has lips and/or steps
- Greta Arts & Sports Community, Hall 3 Water Street, Greta NSW 2334. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Kearsley Public School, 130 Caledonia Street, Kearsley NSW 2325. Assisted access, Building has lips and/or steps, No accessible toilet
- Kitchener Public School, Richmond Street, Kitchener NSW 2325. Assisted access, No accessible toilet
- Kurri Kurri High School, Deakin Street, Kurri Kurri NSW 2327. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Kurri Kurri Public School, Rawson Street, Kurri Kurri NSW 2327. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Millfield Public School, 105 Wollombi Road, Millfield NSW 2325. Assisted access, Access ramp does not meet standards, Path of travel from car park may be difficult, No accessible toilet
- Mount View High School, Mount View Road, Cessnock West NSW 2325. Assisted access, No accessible toilet, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- Mulbring Public School, Water Street, Mulbring NSW 2323. Assisted access, Building has lips and/or steps, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- North Cessnock Community Hall, Church Street, Cessnock NSW 2325. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot, No accessible toilet, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- Nulkaba Public School, 5 O'Connors Road, Nulkaba NSW 2325. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Pasterfield Sports Complex, 18 Horizon Ave, Cameron Park NSW 2285. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Pelaw Main Public School, Abermain Street, Pelaw Main NSW 2327. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Pokolbin Rural Bush Fire Brigade, McDonalds Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot, No accessible toilet, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- Stanford Merthyr Infants School, Wickham Street, Stanford Merthyr NSW 2327. Assisted access, No accessible toilet, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- West Wallsend High School, 2 Appletree Road, West Wallsend NSW 2286. Assisted access, No designated accessible parking spot, Path of travel from car park may be difficult
- Weston Civic Centre, Station Street, Weston NSW 2326. Fully wheelchair accessible
- Wollombi Public School, 2855 Wollombi Road, Wollombi NSW 2325.
Candidate profiles
The Nationals candidate Ash Barnham has been disendorsed by the party following controversial posts on Twitter.
The ballot paper order for the electorate of Cessnock in the NSW election is:
- Andrew Fenwick (Legalise Cannabis Party)
- Ash Barnham (The Nationals) (disendorsed)
- Graham Jones (Sustainable Australia Party - Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption)
- Quintin King (One Nation)
- Victoria Davies (Animal Justice Party)
- Llynda Nairn (The Greens)
- Clayton Barr (Labor Party)
History of the seat
Labor MP Clayton Barr has held the seat of Cessnock since 2011.
From 1999 to his retirement in 2011, Cessnock was held by Labor's Kerry Hickey.
Mr Barr won the 2018 state election with 54.8 per cent of the primary vote.
Cessnock has been held by Labor since its inception, apart from a one-off Liberal victory in 1988.
Running an election day barbecue or cake stall?
- Let us know. Send the details to lowerhunter@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Chloe Coleman
Chloe Coleman is a journalist covering news in the Lower Hunter. Contact her on chloe.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Chloe Coleman is a journalist covering news in the Lower Hunter. Contact her on chloe.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
