A record number of Illawarra residents cast their vote before election day leaving polling booths less busy than previous years.
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An extra 52,800 Illawarra people voted early at pre-polling booths in the three weeks before the election than they did in 2016.
A staggering 120,600 voted in 2019 compared to the 65,400 people three years ago.
Read more: How election day unfolded in the Illawarra
The trend was across the country with about four million people voting early.
This disparity was shown when voters rarely had to wait in long queues and the usual rush to get in before 6pm did not occur at Wollongong Town Hall or Dapto Ribbonwood Centre.
Volunteers packed up signs early to get ready to go home.
Greens candidate for Whitlam Jamie Dixon said Dapto Ribbonwood Centre was quieter than he expected likely because of the high number of people who cast their vote early.
"At pre-poll people had more time, and we got a good reaction from voters who were informed and asked questions," he said.
"On election day, people seem to be walking in and out pretty quickly."
Several party volunteers told the Mercury that numbers seemed to be down than previous elections days.
Technically, voters are required to have a reason to vote at a pre-polling centre, such as work or travel commitments on election day that are unavoidable. However, in practice the requirement is rarely enforced.
The long pre-poll period has changed the way parties campaign, with big announcements shifted earlier in the campaign to ensure they reach people before they vote.
Many Cunningham, Whitlam and Gilmore candidates were personally attending early voting centres to talk to voters to try to sure up votes.
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