WA election: Thousands of voters' minds already made up as over 250k us pre-pol voting option

Almost a quarter of a million voters have cast their pre-poll ballots, as the Western Australian state election edges closer.

The nation’s wealthiest state goes to polls on Saturday but many voters have already made up their minds.

More than 253,000 of Western Australia’s 1.86 million electors had voted as of last Saturday, according to the state electoral commission.

Experts are tipping a comfortable win for Labor, which holds 53 seats of 59 seats in the lower house with the Liberals and Nationals holding three each after Labor’s unprecedented landslide victory in 2021.

Its massive majority is likely to shrink, however, with the Liberals expected to win back about 10 lost seats.

Labor could also lose control of the upper house.

The two major parties continue to trade blows as they campaign despite the expected electoral outcome.

Liberal leader Libby Mettam was scathing of Premier Roger Cook after he called US Vice-President JD Vance “a knob” during a speech at a business breakfast on Tuesday, which he later apologised for.

“The premier’s job is not to commentate on international matters,” Ms Mettam told reporters after she promised to reduce elective surgery waiting lists.

“The United States is an important partner to Australia (and ) the premier’s comments just illustrate how foolish he is, how out of depth he is.

“He should be focused on the issues that matter to Western Australians.”

Mr Cook slammed the Liberals as he pledged $60 million to help attract renewable energy projects to the state if his party won a third term in office.

“The Liberals have no plan for the economy, they don’t have the experience or the vision to keep our economy stronger, and the Liberals don’t believe in Western Australia and what it’s capable of,” he said.

“Only WA Labor will create the jobs of the future and keep our economy strong.”