A comparison of primary votes from the March 2007 state election and the recent council elections shows swings of around 35per cent away from Labor in some booths.

The Champion analysed 14 polling places to be in operation on Saturday that were also used for the past two elections.

The analysis shows the seat is Labor's to lose, with a steady decline in primary votes to the party, rather than a huge swing to the Liberal Party.

At the Canley Heights booth in 2007, Labor polled 66 per cent of the primary vote and out of almost the same number of people 18 months later at the council elections, the primary vote decreased to 41 per cent - a shift of 25 per cent since the last time residents had voted.

The Liberal Party stayed the same at 16 per cent over the two elections.

At Harrington Street it was similar, with Labor's fall from 68per cent in 2007 to 38 per cent in 2008 the primary vote down 30per cent.

The Liberal primary vote climbed from 14 per cent in 2007 to 18 per cent in 2008.

Cabramatta is Labor's second safest seat, with a hold of 29 per cent.

In the seat vacated by former health minister and Coogee resident Reba Meagher when she walked away from her party a month ago, residents may decide to pay back the State Government.

Labor hopes Nick Lalich's standing in the community as the mayor will help, despite being on top of the Labor ticket in the recent council elections when the votes shifted from the embattled party.

The Liberals are fielding Dai Le, a former Champion journalist, Vietnamese migrant and documentary producer. With a multi-lingual campaign website, the party is hoping for a big chunk of the multicultural vote.