The 2023 NSW State Election is three weeks away today. We go to the polls on Saturday, March 25 from 8am to 6pm.

The Lismore App has launched its 2023 State Election button, introducing you to the candidates who have registered for this state election.

You will see two blank faces and no content for two candidates, Independent Ian James McKenzie and Shooters Fishers Farmers candidate Matthew Bartelli. We have endeavoured to make contact but at this stage, have no been successful. This may change in the coming days and weeks.

Next week is a busy week for the NSW Electoral Commission as Wednesday, March 8 at 12 midday is the close of nominations with Thursday, March 9 the announcement of the candidates and the all-important ballot draw.

As far as early voting goes, the important dates to remember is Saturday, March 18 when booths open. They will close on Friday, March 24 at 6pm.

The early voting venues are:

• Goonellabah Community Centre: 27 Oliver Avenue
• Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall: 6-8 Stratheden Street
• Murwillumbah: 10-14 Tumbulgum Road

If you wish to register for a postal vote, click here. You need to register by Monday, March 20 before 6pm.

Distribution of the postal vote packs begins on Monday, March 13. You will need to vote on Saturday, March 25 and return your postal vote by Thursday, April 6.

The latest polls have Labor ahead of the Liberal National Party with Roy Morgan showing a 52% to 48% vote favouring Labor on a two-party preferred basis. However, the margin was closing with Labor down 3% and the Lib Nats up 3%. This poll was released on February 21 with a sample size of 1147 for the month of January and compared to December.

The question mark is over the primary vote for both parties, Labor at 32.5% and the Coalition on 35%. Experts are saying this could lead to a minority government.

Locally, the overwhelming favourite is still Labor's Janelle Saffin with The Greens Adam Guise and the National's Alex Rubin as her main rivals.

There are some big questions to be answered in this election:

• What will happen to Janelle Saffin's primary vote? In 2019, it was 25.6% with Ms Saffin getting enough preferences to beat the Nationals Austin Curtain by 1,146 votes or 1.2%.
• What will happen to Alex Rubin's primary vote? The Nats were consistently above 50% pre-2015 when the coal seam gas issue raised its head and it dropped to 42.5%. Adam Guise lost to Thomas George by 2,345 votes or 2.9%. Austin Curtain's primary vote reduced again in 2019 to 39.7%.
• Where will the preferences flow in 2023? Traditionally, more Green votes go to Labor than Labor to The Greens.

We don't have long to wait to find out who will represent us in parliament for the next four years.

In the meantime, check out the 2023 State Election button on the front page.