Media Release 1998: Declaration of Nominations in the Divisions of Canberra and Fraser

9 September 1998

The Divisional Returning Officers for the Divisions of Canberra and Fraser invite members of the media and the public to attend the declaration of nominations and the draw for positions on the House of Representatives ballot papers for these Divisions.

At 12 noon on Friday 11 September, the Divisional Returning Officer for Canberra, Mr David Penman will publicly announce the House of Representatives nominations received for the Division of Canberra. Mr Penman will then conduct a random draw to determine the positions of the candidates on the ballot paper for the Division of Canberra.

Immediately following, the Divisional Returning Officer for Fraser, Mr Stephen McDonald, will publicly announce the House of Representatives nominations received for the Division of Fraser. Mr McDonald will then conduct a random draw to determine the positions of the candidates on the ballot paper for the Division of Fraser.

The declaration of Senate nominations received for the Australian Capital Territory will also be publicly declared at 12 noon on Friday 11 September by the Australian Electoral Officer for the Australian Capital Territory.

For details ring Bernadette O'Meara on Ph. (02) 6271 4548.

Nominations close for the 1998 federal election at 12 noon on Thursday 10 September 1998.

A background paper on the conduct of the draw is attached.

WHAT: Declaration of House of Representatives nominations for the Divisions of Canberra and Fraser and the draws for ballot paper positions

WHEN: 12 noon Friday 11 September 1998

WHERE: AEC Divisional Offices of Canberra and Fraser 1st Floor 8-10 Hobart Place Canberra City

For further information:

David Penman Divisional Returning Officer for Canberra Ph. (02) 6257 6019

Stephen McDonald Divisional Returning Officer for Fraser Ph. (02) 657 3657

FEDERAL ELECTION 1998 BACKGROUNDER

Draw for positions on the ballot paper
The order in which candidates' names appear on the ballot paper is determined by a random draw, which takes places immediately following the declaration of nominations.

The declaration of nominations takes place 24 hours after the close of nominations.

A system of double randomisation is used for determining the order of groups and ungrouped candidates on Senate ballot papers and the order of candidates on House of Representatives ballot papers.

A separate draw is conducted for the Senate in each State and Territory and for every House of Representatives Division.

All candidates, media and the public are welcome to attend the draws conducted to determine the order of names on the relevant ballot paper.

Senate draw
The AEO declares the nominations received for the Senate in their State or Territory at 12 noon on the day after the nominations for the election close.

Following the declaration, the AEO conducts the draw for positions on the ballot paper. This is usually conducted in the AEC Head Office in the relevant State or Territory.

In Senate elections, the names of candidates included in groups are placed on the ballot paper before the names of candidates not included in groups.

For the purposes of the Senate draw and ballot paper printing, incumbent Senators who have given written notice of an intention to lodge a voting ticket are treated as a group.

The AEO determines the order of groups and ungrouped candidates on the ballot paper by conducting a public draw for positions. This draw is conducted in two parts, with each part consisting of two draws.

In the first part, the first draw allocates a number to each group and the second draw determines the order in which each group appears on the ballot.

This is followed by two draws for ungrouped candidates, with the first draw allocating a number to each ungrouped candidate and the second draw determines the order in which each ungrouped candidate appears on the ballot paper.

The Senate draws are conducted in this order because groups appear before ungrouped candidates on the ballot paper.

House of Representatives draw
The DRO declares the House of Representatives nominations received for their Division at 12 noon on the day after the nominations for the election close. Following the declaration, the DRO conducts the double randomisation draw in the Divisional Office.
The first draw assigns a number to each candidate and the second draw determines the order in which each candidate appears on the ballot paper.

How is the draw done?
A number of small wooden balls equal to the number of candidates (or in the case of the Senate, groups), are marked with different numbers and placed in a container large enough for all the balls to move freely when it is rotated.

The container is rotated by the AEC officer in charge who then invites any other person present to rotate the container.

A person is blindfolded and selects the balls one by one and passes them to another person who reads out the number. As the numbers are called, they are allocated to the candidates or groups. That is, the first number called is written against the first candidate or group on the list and so the order of numbers in the list is the order in which they are called out.

The balls are then replaced in the container.

Again, the container is rotated and any person present may rotate it.

The blindfolded person once again selects the balls one by one and passes them to another person who reads out the number. The order that these numbers are drawn determines the order of names on the ballot paper.

What happens after the draw?
After the draw, the AEC moves immediately to begin the printing of ballot papers for the Senate and House of Representatives.

Once the ballot papers are printed, voters who will be away on polling day are able to begin voting in the election by casting a pre-poll or postal vote.