Country Labor candidate in the state seat of Upper Hunter, Martin Rush, was at the Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre on Rutherford Road, to cast his ballot shortly after doors opened at 8am.

Polling Place Manager, David Johnston, said voters were keen to get the job done.

"We had an early rush of approximately 50 people waiting at the doors, but that's steadied a little now.

"Approximately 3000 [eligible voters] will come through this polling place and there's another smaller centre in Muswellbrook.

"Each of the larger towns in the Upper Hunter has two polling places and then there's a number of smaller rural booths," Mr Johnston said.

Mr Johnston said the main requirements for staff working at polling places.include management skills, general administration and the ability to count accurately.

"We've got 12 staff here today managing a controlled process of voter entry, the issuing of the ballot paper, the voting point where you mark the ballot paper and the return of the ballot paper to the box where, at 6pm, it's going to be counted," he said.

Having worked at eight elections, David Johnston, said he very much enjoys the job.

"I like it a whole lot, I enjoy the political process and I enjoy seeing people do what we're lucky to do in this country," he said.

The Returning Officer for the state seat of Upper Hunter is Graeme O'Brien, who's based in Singleton.