Scott Morrison campaigns for Simon Kennedy in Cook by-election

Voting ends tonight in the safe Liberal seat in southern Sydney vacated by former prime minister Scott Morrison, who campaigned for his assumed successor with one last pitch.

Scott Morrison has campaigned for his expected successor in today’s Cook by-election, with voting ending at 6pm.

Liberal Simon Kennedy is expected to win the Sutherland Shire seat in southern Sydney on Saturday night, made vacant after the former prime minister resigned earlier this year.

But because Mr Kennedy – who stood in the seat of Bennelong on the other side of the city in 2022 – moved to the electorate after rolls closed, he was unable to vote for himself in accordance with Australian electoral rules.

That didn’t stop Mr Morrison from encouraging locals to get behind him.

“It’s by-election day in Cook,” he shared on X.

“Great to be with @simonkennedycook at Lilli Pilli this morning and wish him all the best.

“He’ll do a terrific job for us locally and as part of our Liberal team. I encourage to come out today to vote and support Simon.”

It’s by-election day in Cook. Great to be with @simonkennedycook at Lilli Pilli this morning and wish him all the best. He’ll do a terrific job for us locally and as part of our Liberal team. I encourage to come out today to vote and support Simon.. pic.twitter.com/GnRo9QwwvE

— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) April 12, 2024

Simon Kennedy moved into the Cook electorate after winning preselection earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

Simon Kennedy and wife Nila, son taj, 8 and daughter Kaia 6 arrive at Burraneer Bay school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The fact that Mr Kennedy could not vote for himself is not expected to change the outcome.

Cook is one of the safest Liberal seats in the country.

Mr Morrison retained the Sutherland Shire electorate with a 12.4 per cent margin in 2022 – although down from 19 per cent in 2019 – after he picked up almost two thirds of the two-party preferred vote.

Mr Kennedy isn’t facing much of a fight after the Labor Party decided not to stand a candidate in Saturday’s by-election.

Although Simon Earle, who stood for the seat in 2022, took to X on Friday to share his thoughts about that decision.

“I reckon we would’ve gone alright tomorrow,” he wrote on X.

Simon Earle former Labor candidate for Cook (right) with the current running Liberal Candidate Simon Kennedy. Picture: X

No “voting for myself” shots for Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy in the Cook by-election tomorrow. #cookvotespic.twitter.com/s1EwdzXW3i

— Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) April 12, 2024

Low voter turnout could be because some locals are unhappy with the Liberal Party’s selection of Mr Kennedy, who did not live in the electorate when he beat out the local mayor and a popular advocate in preselection.

Pollster Kos Samaras said voter disenchantment and Labor’s decision not to run a candidate could create a “perfect storm” for the party to actually lose some of their margin.

Five other candidates are on the ballot, including the Greens candidate Martin Moore who is tipped to run second.

Voter apathy for the by-election is concerning the Australian Electoral Commission.

Volunteers and voters at Burraneer Public School on Saturday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Cook is considered one of the safest Liberal seats in the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Voter turnout for by-elections is traditionally lower than a full federal election, but the AEC said they were concerned by how few people had voted early in Cook and had put out “more communication for a single by-election than we’ve ever done”.

Polls open at 8am and close at 6pm when counting will start.