Voting day is finally here and the current incumbent for the Electorate of Parkes cast his vote soon after polls opened in Coonamble this morning. 

Even with after fifteen years in the role and five previous elections under his belt, Mark Coulton won't be sitting back waiting for the votes to come in.

At 8am, Mr Coulton still had a full day of stopovers planned. 

"I try to pick a different location every election and Coonamble is a good place to start as it's the middle of my electorate," he said. 

"I've never been here on polling day before so I was pleased to be here. I came last night and caught up with some friends and had a lovely meal at the hotel." 

"We'll do a bit of a milk run from here." 

His route will take him to Baradine, Binnaway, Coolah, Dunedoo, perhaps Ballimore and then back to Dubbo before the 6pm voting cut-off. 

Soon after doors opened at 8 o'clock this morning voters in Coonamble were lined up outside.

Mr Coulton says that compared to earlier elections this campaign has been relatively downbeat, at least in the Parkes electorate. 

"There was a real buzz around back in 2007 and the Kevin '07 campaign and there was a change of government from the Howard era," he said. 

"I'm not finding that this time. It seems to be very much like previous elections and I guess one of the positives about the Parkes electorate is that elections are generally held in a very civil, collegial sort of way. 

"I've got to know most of the other candidates pretty well and while I don't really pretend to be able to predict how people are voting, everyone seems to be in good spirits." 

Mr Coulton says he knows there are no guarantees but hopes to continue representing the electorate that covers 49% of New South Wales. 

"Obviously I'm hoping that I'm still being government because you can actually do a lot more," he said. 

"It's politics, and a lot of the the things that are really important are what's unseen, you know, it's the relationships, it's the making of policy decisions where you can say you can actually deliver what you need to do so that's much easier in government." 

"But regardless of the outcome, I'm looking forward to representing the electorate."  

"If I'm in opposition, that sort of makes it a slightly different role. But I do know most of the the leadership team in the Labour Party, I've got a good relationship with them, and so under any change of circumstances I'll be doing the best I can." 

With eight other candidates in the running, Mr Coulton acknowledged the approach everyone has taken to the campaign. 

"I think it's a big thing to step up and run and and some of the other candidates have been doing it a bit tough at times but everyone's been very polite and civil and that's the way it should be." 

"I hear from some of my colleagues in other parts of Australia, they can be quite nasty and vicious. Certainly that hasn't been the case and not only with the candidates, but I've probably seen quite a few thousand people that go through to vote in different places, and everyone's is polite, and as it should be." 

"This is my sixth time and I'm just as excited today as I was back in 2007.  

"It's a real privilege to do this job. It's not without its challenges, but it's something that I'm very grateful for." 

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