If you are looking to avoid the hustle and bustle, and the queues, that are associated with election day, pre-polling for the federal election has opened.

There are six locations in the Gilmore electorate which will be open for anyone who would like to get in to cast their vote before May 3.

With national public holidays and school holidays in some states impacting the early voting period, it is even more important for people to plan when and where they will vote.

Pre-polling booths will be closed on Anzac Day.

Anyone who cannot make it to a polling place or early voting centre should apply for a postal vote as soon as possible.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said 18 million people would be casting a vote.

"If you can vote on election day Saturday 3 May then that is what you need to do," he said.

"If you can’t then you can vote at one of our many early voting centres across the country. I encourage all voters to consider their circumstances and plan their vote.

“The bulk of our work still happens on election day, but for a variety of reasons it’s clear from past elections that more Australians are needing to access early voting options. Just over half of all voters cast an early vote, including a postal vote in 2022, and we expect that number to be similar this year.

“No matter whether you’re in remote Australia or on the other side of the world, the AEC is pulling out all the stops to reach you.

“Australian elections are unique and special in many ways – including the variety of voting options provided. In many democracies around the world people have just a single location and single day to cast their vote.”

Incumbent Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips faces a fight to retain the seat after winning by just 373 votes ahead of Liberal rival Andrew Constance in 2022.

Constance and independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds loom as Phillips' main rivals at the upcoming election.

Debbie Killian is representing The Greens with Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots), Graham Brown (Family First Party Australia), John Hawke (Pauline Hanson's One Nation)

and Adrian Carle (Legalise Cannabis Australia) also on the ballot paper.

If you would like to vote before the election day, you can visit one of these locations:

Kiama Uniting Church (Lecture Hall), 48 Manning Street, Kiama

Wesley Centre (Shoalhaven Uniting Church), 29 Berry Street, Nowra

Worrigee Shopping Village, Shop 3, 60 Isa Road, Worrigee

St Georges Basin Community Centre, 21 Meriton Street, St Georges Basin

Ulladulla Civic Centre, 81B Princes Highway, Ulladulla

Batemans Bay Community Centre, 3 Museum Place, Batemans Bay

The ballot order for Gilmore is:

Fiona Phillips (Australian Labor Party)

Kate Dezarnaulds (Independent)

Melissa Wise (Trumpet of Patriots)

Debbie Killian (The Greens)

Graham Brown (Family First Party Australia)

Andrew Constance (Liberal Party of Australia)

John Hawke (Pauline Hanson's One Nation)

Adrian Carle (Legalise Cannabis Australia)