Thousands of Bathurst voters have already attended pre-poll since it opened on November 22, with it understood that in excess of 8000 people had voted as of Wednesday.

Returning officer for Bathurst, Stuart Evennett, said on Wednesday that pre-poll voting has been picking up as the election draws near.

Numbers are expected to keep increasing through to Saturday.

"Pre-poll at the Catholic Parish Centre and Girl Guides Hall has run very smoothly. Numbers were a little bit down on the expected, but possibly due to the rain last week," he said.

"It is anticipated for the next three days that the numbers will greatly pick up.

"Voters are also reminded that to pre-poll vote that there are no special requirements."

In previous years, people had to have a reasonable excuse to utilise pre-poll, such as having to work on election day or being out of the electorate.

However, the rules were changed this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pre-poll is available at the two centre from 9am to 5pm on Thursday and Friday.

On election day, the 17 polling places across the electorate will be open from 8am to 6pm.

"Voting is compulsory. Have a big say in the democracy and who are going to be our next councillors that will lead Bathurst Regional Council," Mr Evennett said.

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There are 29,907 people registered to vote in Bathurst, but not all of them will vote in the election.

"Because we don't have an absent voting, the total number of votes is expected to be quite a bit less than that," Mr Evennett said.

"Of the total votes, we're expecting about 50 per cent of those will have already pre-poll vote by the time we get to election day."

It's also anticipated that more people will have utilised mail-in voting at this election than ever before.

People have until December 17 to have their ballots returned, which is what will delay the confirmation of election results.

The votes will begin to be counted Saturday evening.

"Counting will start after 6pm Saturday at our 17 polling places, and counting of the pre-poll votes will start at 6pm in the returning officer office here at 171 Howick Street," Mr Evennett said.

There are 68 candidates on the ballot paper for this year's election.

Nine councillors will be elected, with the positions of mayor and deputy mayor to be determined by the new council at its first meeting.

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