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The polls have opened in the Rockingham by-election, which will decide who will fill the seat former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan held for 27 years.
The Labor government holds the seat by a margin of 37.7 per cent but Premier Roger Cook has predicted it will be a tight race.
Both McGowan and Cook hit the campaign trail today to back candidate Magenta Marshall, who is tipped to retain the safest Labor seat in the state.
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The by-election will also be a test of Cook's performance as leader, after McGowan announced he would step down from the state's top job in May, citing "exhaustion" leading the state through several challenges including the pandemic.
McGowan was a popular leader in the state and his approval rating soared at the last election.
However, Labor voters could be swayed by independent candidate Hayley Edwards, who failed to win ALP preselection but is well-known to residents as the Rockingham deputy mayor.
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The Liberal candidate for the by-election is 21-year-old small business owner Peter Hudson, who has the mammoth task of turning the seat blue.
Other candidates include independent Clive Galletly, independent Peter D Dunne, Greens candidate Madeleine De Jong, Legalise Cannabis Western Australia Party candidate Rae Cottam and Australian Christians candidate Mike Crichton.
Residents can cast their votes at 10 locations across the electorate until 6pm (AWST).
Thousands of people in the electorate have already had their say at early voting centres and via post.
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