Following the counting of 24,502 first preference votes, including the ivote, Cr Mileto had cut Cr Jason Hamling's lead to 1.57 per cent at 5pm yesterday.

Cr Hamling has won 20.93 per cent of the count so far, while Cr Mileto has 19.36 per cent with declaration voting and postal voting, which close on Friday, December 17 to count.

The gap represents a difference of 368 votes meaning preferences could come into play.

The Central Orange booth at the Scout Hall in Kite Street, was added to the count on Wednesday afternoon, and easily won by Cr Mileto who claimed 1376 votes compared to Cr Hamling with 1080.

The initial count indicates 9729 Orange residents cast their vote at prepoll this election while just over 4000 chose to use the ivote, which crashed in NSW on Saturday morning.

So far 523 postal votes have been counted.

The 2017 election for mayor was similarly close with Reg Kidd elected after the distribution of preferences, 7159 votes to 6084. There were 10521 exhausted preferences.

Cr Kidd won the first preference count 5196 to Cr Turner's 4552.

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