Pens to replace pencils at NSW election

Pens will replace pencils in all voting booths for next month's NSW election in a first for general elections in the state.

It's understood the move is in response to a perception among some voters that votes marked with pencils can be rubbed off and changed.

While there's no suggestion that that has happened in previous elections, the NSW Electoral Commission has nonetheless decided to scrap the use of pencils in favour of pens at all voting booths for the March 28 poll.

People wanting to vote overseas will no longer be able to cast their ballots at consulates and will now only be able to vote online or on the phone via the iVote system.

Around 50,000 used iVote in the 2011 NSW election, when it was used for the first time, and that number could reach as high as 200,000 in the March poll.

The iVote option is also available to people who are blind, have a disability, have literacy needs or live more than 20km from a polling place.

"People have the right to a secret ballot," Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry said.

"The iVote system allows a range of people to vote unassisted."

Around 13,000 NSW electors are blind, 54,000 have low vision and approximately 330,000 people have other disabilities that could benefit from iVote.

Premier Mike Baird's coalition government is tipped to be returned next month.