Gladys Berejiklian has conceded the NSW election will be tight as she seeks to become the state's first ever popularly-elected female premier.
Many pundits are predicting a hung parliament, which would force either the coalition or Labor to negotiate with independents and minor parties to form government.
"It is going to be a tight race but it is up to the people of NSW to decide," the NSW premier told a pack of media after casting her vote at Willoughby Public School, and buying a box of cupcakes for her staff.
"I hope they will decide to allow my government to continue to take NSW forward and provide a strong budget, a strong economy and not allow us to go backwards.
"Is there more we could have done? Of course there is, but ... I know (NSW) will be much better off if they choose to vote Liberals and Nationals today."
A special Newspoll, published in The Weekend Australian, showed the coalition ahead of Labor 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.
The Liberal-Nationals hold 52 seats in the lower house but Ms Berejiklian will need to only lose six seats to relinquish her majority.
Labor will need to pick up 13 seats to clinch an outright majority in the 93-seat chamber.
Ms Berejiklian visited half a dozen voting booths across Sydney on Saturday, including in the marginal seats of Penrith and East Hills - where she snuck in a sausage sandwich - as well as down south in Engadine and Loftus.
Labor leader Michael Daley started his day with a meat pie and strawberry milk at a Matraville pie shop - a tradition since he ran for local council in 1995.
"It's a big day today," he told reporters later, after casting his ballot at Chifley Public School in Malabar.
"This is the day the people of NSW get to take their lives back after eight years of a chaotic government that has taken them for granted."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison did his bit to help the NSW Liberals, visiting a polling centre and cooking sausages at a school in Sylvania Heights.
"I've spoken to Gladys today. I've wished her well and I think she's going to have a great day," he told reporters.
Former PM Malcolm Turnbull was also on the hustings, helping Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith campaign at a booth in Coogee.
Deputy premier and NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro cast his vote at Jerrabomberra Public School, while his federal counterpart Michael McCormack was in Wagga Wagga.
Polling booths close at 6pm on Saturday. Online and telephone voting also closes at 6pm, however people need to register by 1pm.
Some reported issues with the iVote system on Friday and into Saturday, but the NSW Electoral Commission said it had not impacted voting.
More than 1.3 million have already made their decision and voted early.
Betting agency Sportsbet has the coalition at odds of $1.38 to return to power, while Labor's chances had blown out to $3.
Australian Associated Press
