Sharma heckled by climate change protesters

Climate change protesters confronted Wentworth Liberal candidate Dave Sharma at a polling station in Rose Bay as voters head to the polls for today's crucial by-election.

Mr Sharma candidate told reporters he’d taken advice from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in recent days.

Mr Turnbull has been largely absent from the public eye during the campaign, which was triggered when he resigned from Parliament following his ousting as prime minister.

WENTWORTH BY-ELECTION: Follow live coverage here

Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps shook hands with Mr Sharma shook hands at Bondi Beach Public School and they wished each other well.

Despite being favoured to win the vote on preferences, Dr Phelps' campaign staff were not getting ahead of themselves but said plenty of how to vote cards were being taken at polling stations

Mr Sharma said it would be a tough by-election to win.

There is some clear dissent from voters on the ground over the Mr Turnbull's dumping as the nation's leader.

The former prime minister might not have been present in Wentworth today but his spirit was, as an activist donned a giant head resembling the ex-Member for Wentworth.