While polling booths were a little quieter than previous years, there was a consistent crowd waiting to cast their vote at Rutherford Technology High when The Maitland Mercury popped in.

Among the crowd, we spotted a few hopeful candidates who were greeting voters on their way including Liberal mayoral candidate Ben Mitchell and Labor candidate Stephanie Fisher.

Mayoral Independent candidate Philip Penfold was also stationed outside the school.

Maitland mayor Loretta Baker had also stationed herself at the school in the morning.

The Mercury asked her how she was feeling about the election.

"It's been really good so far. We are feeling positive," Cr Baker said.

The local government area (LGA) is broken up into four wards - North, East, Central and West with four councillors representing each ward as well as a popularly elected mayor.

The candidates are made up of a mix of Labor, Liberal, The Greens, Penfold Independents as well as a few solo independents.

Check out profiles from the lead candidates in Central and East Ward and North and West Ward.

There are seven candidates vying for the top job of Maitland mayor including - in ballot order - John Brown (Greens), Ben Mitchell (Liberal), incumbent mayor Loretta Baker (Labor), Philip Penfold (Independent), Sean Saffari (Independent), Michael Cooper (Independent) and Brian Burke (Independent).

Not voted yet? Polling booths will be open from 8am to 6pm.

We've compiled a list of all the voting booths around Maitland to help residents today. See below: