Six candidates are jockeying to become the next  Maitland MP.

They include independent Philip Penfold, Labor candidate Jenny Aitchison, Liberal Steve Thomson, Greens representative John Brown, No Land Tax Party candidate Tania Esposito and the Christian Democratic Party’s Anna Balfour.

Four of the seven Maitland MPs who have served the region in the past 50 years have been Liberals, most recently Robyn Parker who won the seat in 2011.

Ms Parker will not contest this ­election.

Three Maitland MPs have belonged to the Labor party during the past 50 years.

John Price became Member for Maitland in 1999 and served until 2007, when Frank Terenzini took his place.

Mr Terenzini was Maitland MP until 2011. 

Optional preferential voting is used to elect members of the NSW lower house.

To cast a valid vote, boxes on the ballot paper must be numbered in order of the most preferred candidate, number one, to the least preferred.

This election, voters only have to number one box, but can number as many as they want.

Pre-poll voting is available at 355 High Street until 6pm today for people who are unable to get to a polling place tomorrow.

Voting booths will be set up between 8am and 6pm at 22 sites across the ­electorate tomorrow.

People can vote at Bolwarra Public School, Bruce Street Community Hall, East Maitland Public School, Gillieston Public School, Largs Public School, Lochinvar Public School, Maitland Church Of Christ, Maitland High School and Maitland Town Hall.

Polling places will also be set up at Metford Public School, Millers Forest Public School, Morpeth Uniting Church, Nillo Infants School, Rutherford Playtime Pre-School, Rutherford Public School and Shamrock Hill Multi-Purpose Centre.

Somerset Sporting Complex, St Paul’s Parish Hall, Telarah Public School, Tenambit Public School, Thornton Public School, Woodberry Public School will also have voting facilities.

Listen to what the candidates for Maitland have to say here