NSW local government elections: How do you vote during a flood? Thousands vote early in Gunnedah and Narrabri despite natural disasters

Statistics shared by the NSW Electoral Commission show that ratepayers in both communities have turned out in droves a week in advance of the Saturday election.

At least 1,555 people in Gunnedah and 1,590 people in Narrabri had already voted by Tuesday close of polls.

With 17 per cent of the vote already cast in both electorates, the flooded towns are ahead of the state average of 14.18 per cent of pre-poll votes.

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According to the NSW Electoral Commission statistics, some 7,160 Tamworth ratepayers - about 16 per cent - had already cast their vote at the same time out of a total electorate of 44,550.

A spokesperson for the NSW Electoral Commission said that there were a number of alternative voting options for people cut off by floodwaters.

Residents can access internet voting via iVote, or telephone voting options if they've applied for a postal vote that they didn't receive before 5pm on November 26, even if it has since arrived.

They can also do so if they would be forced to travel more than 20 kilometres by road closures, flooding, or some other transport issue in order to vote in person on election day.

They can also vote that way if they will be outside their council area between 8 am and 6 pm on election day.

People who can't cast a vote due to the floods may also be able to evade a fine.

"The reasons given for not voting will be assessed on a case-by-case basis," the spokesperson said.

At least 4035 votes have already been cast in Armidale, representing 21 per cent of the 19,214 electors in the city.

The statistics only count people who had voted early in person and do not count declaration votes cast outside the electorate, and don't include votes cast by post, many of which are still in the mail.

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