First-time candidate Ross Jackson has attracted more than 13,000 votes as counting in the safe Liberal seat nears a conclusion.

Almost 80 per cent of votes have been counted by the NSW Electoral Commission since last Saturday’s election and Mr Jackson is on track to record the highest number of primary votes since Mr Mair retained the seat for Labor in 1984.

Mr Mair polled 15,788 to narrowly beat Ian Glachan.

Four years the Labor MP lost the seat when he faced a two-pronged conservative challenge from Liberal challenger Mr Glachan and National contender Merv McIntosh.

Greg Aplin comfortably held the seat at his fourth election, but the rebound by Labor has been strong after more than a decade of struggle.

Mr Aplin’s margin of 27 per cent heading into the election is on track to be cut in half if the present trend of voting continues.

On a two-party preferred basis, the swing to Labor is currently sitting at 13.6 per cent after topping 14 per cent prior to the addition of pre-poll votes which comfortably favoured Mr Aplin, 3566 to 1858.

In Albury alone, pre-polls favoured Mr Aplin 3020 to 1627.

Mr Aplin has won at all booths to date, with votes from Hume Public and Urana still being counted.

The closest Mr Jackson came to claiming a booth was at Springdale Heights where he got within 20 votes of Mr Aplin.

The total number of formal votes counted to date is 41,274 from a total enrolment of 54,812.

The previous biggest swing to Labor on a two-party preferred was at the 1978 election when Mr Mair won the seat with an 8.8 per cent swing.

Mr Aplin is still on target to achieve a similar number of votes to his three previous election wins.

He polled 26,862 in 2003, 27,643 in 2007 and 26,316 in 2011. Mr Aplin has 24,181 votes.

Four years ago, the Labor vote collapsed to 6566 from 11,589 at the 2007 election after a turbulent campaign which resulted in Darren Cameron replacing the previously endorsed candidate Nico Mathews.

Mr Mathews stood in 2003 and attracted only 4710 in a field of candidates which included three independents, Claire Douglas, Robert Ballard and Heather Wilton.