Man charged after Western Sydney mayor allegedly assaulted at polling booth

A 29-year old man has been charged after a Western Sydney mayor was allegedly assaulted at a polling booth.

Police were called to a polling booth at Merrylands Public School on Fowler Road at 5pm yesterday amidst voting for the New South Wales council elections.

Officers were told a 43-year-old man had allegedly been assaulted and threatened by a man.

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The 43-year-old man was Mayor of Cumberland City Council Steve Christou.

"I want to thank all the people concerned about my welfare after I was assaulted outside a polling booth at Merrylands Public School yesterday. I am recovering at home and doing well," he said in a statement.

"As this incident is under police investigation, I am unable to comment further on this matter, however, I will say that yesterday, we saw the ugly side of politics."

Cr Christou said he did not know the alleged attacker and said had done nothing to antagonise him.

"There is never any justification for violence and people should respect each other's views," he said.

Police said a man was arrested at a Merrylands business at 10pm yesterday, and he was charged with common assault.

He was given conditional bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday, January 12.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore claimed an historic fifth straight victory in the election.

First elected in 2004, Clover Moore won around 44 percent of the vote - despite battling a strong field of candidates.

While only 30 percent of the vote has been counted - she and her team are taking it.

Meanwhile, a major crash in an online voting system is being blamed for disenfranchising voters in the local government elections.

The NSW Electoral Commission will waive the fines for eligible voters who tried to use iiVote and couldn't.