NSW local government elections Port Macquarie Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: The Sunday Telegraph

And many of those that did wasted their vote by doodling or nominating US President Barack Obama.

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Scrutineers revealed that on many voting forms, instead of numbered boxes, fed-up electorates used the election pamphlet to sketch, some even drawing male genitalia.

All the results from your local area

Among the worst was Ashfield, in Sydney‘s inner west, where just 60 per cent of residents voted and of those, 17 per cent were filled out incorrectly, left blank or defaced.

The informal vote reached heights of 25 per cent in places where voters preferred to draw their own candidate, with Mr Obama and Homer Simpson rating highly.

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“We had about four Barack Obama votes. Many people also voted above and below the line, which meant the vote was invalid,” one scrutineer said.

In Parramatta and Canterbury nearly a quarter of people didn’t vote properly.

Burwood, Kogarah, Taree, Campbelltown and Camden had wards where nearly 17 per cent of votes were wasted.

In Strathfield, the informal vote was 14.58 per cent, while in Hornsby it was 14.03 per cent.

In Sydney just 52.8 per cent of the 101,846 enrolled voters did so, with 2.9 per cent informal.

Living Sydney’s Angela Vithoulkas said many people were confused about the election, saying they had already voted.

“I am completely horrified about that. It is such a shame,” she said.

“So many people were confused. They kept saying they had already voted. It may have something to do with the apathy and the disappointment in the way politicians behave.

“They are so concerned with the appearance of doing good than actually doing it.” I think they are sick of federal politics, sick of state politics and it’s all too much in their face.”

Those who didn’t make it to the polls will get a $55 fine.