Residents started filing into places like Cooerwull Public School’s hall to cast their votes as early as 8am while the barbecue organised by the school’s P&C association fired up and got cooking.

Rugged up with scarves and gloves in the biting cold, volunteers for a number of parties lined the entrances to greet people with how to vote cards.

President of Cooerwull’s P&C Association, Claire Edwards, was one of many helping raise funds for the school with one of election day’s well-loved traditions: the barbecue.

She said even though they’d been there since 7am it was a great way to raise money for the school.

“It goes to whatever the kids need … things like substituting costs for excursions for those that can’t afford it,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of donations from local businesses and it’s been a lot easier to set up with support from them.”

Candidates such as the Nationals’ Andrew Gee and Labor’s Jess Jennings stopped by Cooerwull to meet voters.

Speaking to the Lithgow Mercury, Mr Gee said after campaigning across Calare the main issue for voters he’s talked to was the economy.

“They want to see it being run responsibly, and not going deeper and deeper into debt,” he said.

“People I’ve talked to don’t believe Labor’s big campaign spending promises because no one believes the deficit is ever going to be reigned in.”

Mr Jennings had a different take on things and said people recognise the Coalition is asking people to sacrifice their living standards for a business tax cut.

“I think they just see the trade-off between health and education and not getting money for that while giving the money to big business instead as a bit of stretch,” he said.

Polling places are open until 6pm.

If you haven’t voted yet, click here for a list of polling places near you.