Prime Minister Tony Abbott's electorate conference has backed a push to rewrite the NSW Liberal party constitution, in a move set to reignite the battle over allowing members to directly elect state and federal candidates.

The conference, which also covers the branches within Premier Mike Baird's state electorate conference of Manly, voted unanimously to pass the resolution on Tuesday night.

The motion, which will be taken to the next Liberal state council, is designed to pressure the party into accepting voting reforms that have caused tensions between the party's factions in recent years.

The dominant left and centre right factions oppose the change as it will weaken their current control over the state executive, which strongly influences preselection decisions. They claim it will open the door to branch stacking.

The minority right faction strongly backs the change – which would need support of 60 per cent of the state council – and argues that it democratises the party.