The City of Sydney’s lord mayor is directly elected. In the race to control the other nine spots on the council, the Greens were polling well based on preliminary results. Moore has had a functioning majority on the council for the past 20 years through her Clover Moore Independent Team, but will need to negotiate if she loses a seat.

More than 5 million voters headed to the polls across NSW on a sunny Saturday, as squabbles over campaign signage were sweetened by democracy sausages and bake sales.

It was an unusual election day, with many voters receiving shorter ballot papers after the Liberal Party state executive failed to nominate more than 130 candidates in 16 councils, significantly reducing the number of candidates in many contests.

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In Inner West Council, Greens and Labor corflutes were defaced with criticisms of each party’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne said he was disappointed that international politics had been brought into the local election.

In early counting on Saturday night, Labor led the Greens in four of the five Inner West wards.

Where the Liberal Party did nominate candidates was Parramatta, and it pulled off a huge return after abandoning the council at the 2021 election. By Saturday night it became clear the Liberals would install at least one candidate in each ward, splitting the council between Liberal and Labor. It led in three of five wards.

An exhausted and scotch-drinking Liberal candidate Steven Issa said he was encouraged by the early results.

“There are a few results we are waiting on but it’s encouraging - we’ve gone from zero to six,” he said.

“I think the Liberals have a lot to offer Parramatta ... it’s what we were expecting.”

Although the Liberal Party failed to nominate any candidates for Northern Beaches Council, one slipped through: Liberal member Mandeep Singh, who submitted his own paperwork in error to become the party’s sole candidate in the council. He was leading the early count in Pittwater ward.

One-time Lane Cove Liberal Mayor Scott Bennison, who was not preselected by the party this year, was in a unique position, having side-stepped disaster to run as an independent.

He rode into the Lane Cove Civic Centre on his Harley-Davidson motorbike on Saturday afternoon, ready to campaign in the traditionally conservative area.

“Voters want a Liberal candidate,” Bennison said. “I’m concerned that there could be a high donkey vote tonight.”

Bennison led early counting in west ward.

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The Liberals’ failure to nominate meant five councils and an additional nine individual wards’ ballots were uncontested. They included North Sydney’s St Leonards ward, where independent mayor Zoe Baker streaked ahead on Saturday night.

At Liverpool, there was confusion over which polling booths were open. On Facebook, the council listed four “polling booths no longer proceeding”, while also reporting long lines “at most polling booths due to demand”. Incumbent Liberal mayor Ned Mannoun led early counting.

with Megan Gorrey, Penry Buckley, Kayla Olaya, Cindy Yin, Alexandra Smith, Daniel Lo Surdo