Sham companies could be set up to manipulate future City of Sydney election results under proposed voting reforms backed by the Baird government, the Independent Member for Sydney has warned.

Alex Greenwich's criticism of a planned overhaul of the City of Sydney Act comes amid confusion about the number of existing businesses operating in Sydney and which of them would be forced to vote in the council's elections under the proposed changes.

Opposed to polling changes: Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich with Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Credit:James Alcock

According to data from Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are about 60,000 businesses in the City of Sydney.

This compares to the ‘‘estimated 80,000’’ referred to by the state government in support of changes, which are widely expected to undermine Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s hold on the city’s top office.