Vote counting has started in Nightcliff, with the Greens trying to hold on to the marginal seat it won from Labor by just 36 votes in the 2024 Northern Territory election.

The by-election was triggered last month by the resignation of Greens politician Kat McNamara for health reasons. 

Ms McNamara became the first Green to win a seat in the NT Parliament when she claimed Nightcliff by just 36 votes in the 2024 general election.

Four candidates are vying to replace her, including Suki Dorras-Walker from the Greens, independent Phil Scott, Labor’s Ed Smelt and Anjan Paudel from the CLP. 

A woman, smiling widely, sitting in front of a microphone inside a radio studio, flanked by two men.

Ed Smelt, Suki Dorras-Walker and Phil Scott take part in a debate hosted by ABC Radio Darwin. (ABC News: Aidan Daly)

After weeks of doorknocking, all candidates said community safety was one of the major issues in the electorate, along with the environment. 

Nightcliff is traditionally a Labor seat, with the party holding it for 23 years before Ms McNamara won it from former Labor chief minister Natasha Fyles in 2024. 

A person, white, wearing green shirt and pants, smiling, surrounded by people wearing green 'The Greens' shirts.

Kat McNamara, pictured here celebrating the win on election night in 2024. (ABC News: Andie Smith)

Candidates are expecting the results to be close — in 2024 Ms McNamara narrowly snatched the seat after benefiting from a large number of CLP voters who preferenced the Greens over the Labor Party.

Foot traffic at the electorate’s polling station at the  Nightcliff High School was minimal on Saturday, with many constituents having already cast their votes.

The NT Electoral Commission website states 5,938 people are enrolled to vote and, as of Thursday, 2,264 votes had already been cast. 

Thirty-two people voted through mobile voting services and postal votes were issued to 441 people.

Three tents at the markets, including a red Labor tent, a Greens tent and an orange CLP tent. Trees are in foreground.

Candidates have been campaigning at the Nightcliff markets ahead of the by-election. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)

The NT Electoral Commission released its updated donations disclosure records on Friday, revealing more than $100,000 worth of gifts and donations to the four candidates vying for the seat. 

Three former Labor chief ministers, Clare Martin, Paul Henderson and Michael Gunner, donated to Labor candidate Ed Smelt, while businesses Paspaley Pearling Co and KPMG donated to the Country Liberal Party. 

All up, the Greens collected the most funding, with more than $43,000, compared with $31,000 for Labor, $23,000 for the CLP and more than $12,000 for independent Phil Scott.