WHILE voters remain tight-lipped about their preferences, some volunteers have told how cuts to TAFE and coal seam gas mining are emerging as key issues at polling booths in Armidale.
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Greens volunteer Siobhan Hokin says a stream of farmers and out-of-towners have vented their anger at coal seam gas mining while taking one of her how-to-vote cards.
"Farmers and students particularly seem annoyed by the mining, I've been asked a fair few questions about it," Ms Hokin, an organiser at the Austin College polling booth, says.
The linguistics student says voters have also commented about perceived cuts to TAFE and appear to be unhappy with changes to the higher education system.
It's a comment echoed by Daisy O'Brien, daughter of Labor candidate Debra O'Brien and herself a TAFE student.
"It seems to be a key issue here at Ben Venue," Ms O'Brien said.
The 27-year-old said she would be voting for her mother.
"I am studying early childhood certificate III at TAFE and I'm concerned about funding cuts," Ms O'Brien said.
Polling booths will close at 6pm and Debra O'Brien and Northern Tablelands incumbent Adam Marshall are expected back in Armidale for their election parties about 7.30pm.
ARMIDALE Town is the most popular place to vote for Armidalians as dozens queue up to cast their vote.
Christian Democracts supporter Gordon Edmonds says he's volunteered for the party on election days for 30 years and hasn't seen it this busy.
"About one in three people are taking my how-to-vote card and most people are polite," Mr Edmonds said.
Greens volunteer Zeri Hudaverdi says there's been a steady stream at the town hall since about 9am.
"This seems to be the main place for people to cast their vote, although it's veru different from election to election, you just can't pick it," Ms Hudaverdi said.
There's also been a steady stream of voters casting their votes across the district.
More to come.
ARMIDALE will be snubbed by all four candidates tomorrow as they cast their vote at polling booths outside the city.
Northern Tablelands incumbent Adam Marshall and Labor candidate Debra O'Brien are scheduled to do some last-minute campaigning in Moree, which became part of the electorate following a boundary change earlier this year, where they will cast their vote. Both are expected to return to Armidale in the afternoon.
Greens candidate Mercurius Goldstein has confirmed he also won't be in Armidale until the afternoon, preferring to cast his vote in a nearby town, while Independent Dave Mailler has already voted electronically.
The Nats are expected to converge at the Ex-Services Club in Dumaresq Street tomorrow from 6.30pm, to be joined by Mr Marshall later in the night.
It will be a low-key post-election party for Mr Goldstein and the Greens, with his campaign manager organising a bash at a private home in Glen Innes.
Labor supporters will be gathering at the Wicklow on Marsh Street from 6pm onwards to watch the results, while Mr Mailler will join his campaign team at the Top Pub in Uralla from 7.30pm after travelling across the electorate throughout the day.
