Voters are taking to the polls in Kiama on the NSW south coast, as Labor, Liberal and independent candidates battle it out for the seat.

The by-election is being held on Saturday to pick a replacement for former MP Gareth Ward, convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July.

Before the then-Liberal MP won the seat in 2011, Labor had held it for the three decades from its re-establishment, putting the party in a good position to wrench the electorate back.

It will be the first major electoral test for the Labor government, which has backed Katelin McInerney for the seat.

Premier Chris Minns said it was up to the voters to choose who they wanted to represent them in parliament, but Ms McInerney had run a great campaign.

"If past performance is any indication of the future, voters can

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