Between the portraits of local candidates tied to the fences of Carrington Public School were handwritten placards advertising Heather Wade's succulent sale around the corner.

The 89-year-old decided to use the extra foot traffic to raise money for the Farmers Fund.

"They need it! They feed us and that's where our meat comes from. I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a sell," she said.

"I enjoy potting plants and doing some gardening."

At the front of the primary school 91-year-old Donald Roser was offering his services as a dog and bicycle minder.

He has handed out how-to-votes for Labor in Carrington for the past 40 years.

"I was born in Carrington in 1927, and with any luck I'll die here," Mr Roser said.

"I worked on the wharf for 31 years loading coal onto ships. It was all Labor over here then.

"My grandfather told me if you can't get anything out of Labor, you won't get it out of the Liberals. Good schools, hospitals that's the main things the working class needs."

Over at Tighes Hill Primary School, the P&C's fundraising coordinator Dan Campbell was focussed on drumming up cash to buy more musical instruments for the school.

"We really need help with the music department. We'll use any opportunity we get," he said.

Apart from a sausage sizzle, the school sold a mouthwatering array of cakes and sweets.

"There's at least 30 to 40 cakes over there. It's all home made by the mums and dads at the school," Mr Campbell said.

And it wasn't only the adults getting entrepreneurial.

Esther Junker, 13, and Jack Moore, 12, invented their own election-day delight after the "democracy sausages" ran out at Carrington.

"We came up with it because there's no sausages left, no bread. But there are crusts, bacon and onion," Esther said.

"It's called a crusty bacon sandwich," Jack said.

At Merewether's Holy Family Primary School 16-year-old Jeremy, who asked that his last name not be used, found a way of having his opinion heard.

The teenager was handing out how-to-votes for the Greens on Saturday morning.

"One of my mates told me about it," Jeremy said.

"I thought I would do something for the environment, particularly as I can't vote."

Not everyone had their mind set on a particular candidate or party, however.

First-time voters, and friends, Emma Hewitt and Indi Stackhouse, both 18, said they felt like they had been left in the dark about the actual process of filling out ballot papers.

"I thought it was just a party you vote for," Emma said. "But we have to number individual candidates."

"I feel like it is something that hasn't really been recently explained to us," said Indi.

Amy Carroll, 27, said she felt her vote in the Charlestown electorate was "much of a muchness". She said, however, her decision to preference the Liberal party was "probably" an aberration from her friends.

"I normally would never but it's a comparison of promises and going for what's already in action," she said.

"It seems like both parties have similar things they are doing, schools and health. It's all good things.

"A lot of young people are concerned about festivals. I don't think it's as big an issue as people make it out to be. Not worth changing my vote on, anyway."

Lisa Parkes and Shane Lovekin of Windale said they both voted for minor parties due to their disappointment with the major parties. 

"Their promises aren't really hitting the mark. There needs to be more of a regional focus, not so much about Sydney. The environment is a big issue, roads and schools," Ms Parkes said.

"I voted for the Greens to give them more minority power. They support live music. It's good for the economy and generates jobs. I think it's been vilified, really."

"I usually vote Labor," Mr Lovekin said. "But I don't like their federal policies, bringing back the boats, and taxing pensions."

Cecilio and Vivian Lucero of Wallsend, who "always vote Labor", said they were not disheartened by this year's state election.

"It's important," Ms Lucero said.

"It's nice to know that politicians are doing their best to make people happy. And I think they are doing their best. They're only human.

"We are the ones that are voting so if they're not maybe we've picked the wrong ones."​