Labor both wins and loses in 2025 electoral ballot paper draw
Find out the winners and losers of the 2025 electoral commission ballot paper draw, including an extraordinary coincidence. Read the details.
Northern Territory
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The 2025 electoral ballot paper draw was full of winners, losers and an extraordinary coincidence.
Every federal election, the ballot paper order is determined through a double randomisation process involving a barrel and bingo balls.
Political expert at Charles Darwin University Dr Nathan Franklin said the ballot paper order had long been seen as an important election factor beyond simple superstition.
“This is for two reasons,” Dr Franklin said.
“If you are at the top of the paper, you often get pick number one as people may just make-up their preferences in sequential order from the first spot.”
“The second reason is preferences.
“Voters will often only have one or two candidates in mind, they then select the rest of their preferences sequentially from the top of the paper.
“It may only be five per cent of voters who act like this, but in a close election, five per cent can make or break a candidate.”
In Lingiari, incumbent Labor MP Marion Scrymgour placed first on the ballot paper while the CLP’s Lisa Siebert, was last.
Dr Franklin said in terms of uncontrolled factors, this could have a huge impact on the electorate.
“This is the best possible outcome for the ALP, and the worst outcome for the CLP,” he said.
In Solomon, incumbent Labor MP Luke Gosling placed last, with Greens candidate Jonathan Parry taking the top spot.
A Labor NT spokesman said the party was happy with the ballot placement.
“We have two amazing and hard working candidates and are confident they will be successful wherever they are on the ballot paper,” the spokesman said.
Interestingly, Mr Parry was the last person to spin the barrel before his ball was picked.
He said this “could be a sign”.
“Being first on the ballot paper doesn’t hurt, but ultimately the people of Solomon will make up their own minds about who they will choose first,” Mr Parry said.
Australian electoral officer for the NT, Geoff Bloom, said Mr Parry’s ‘magic touch’ was an interesting, but inconsequential coincidence.
“There really is no bias in the system,” he said.
“The double randomisation process is a very fair and open process.”
In the senate, minnow party Sustainable Australia Party will be first placed and the Libertarian party last.
Mr Bloom said 94 per cent of eligible Territorian voters were on the electoral role — the highest number ever.
Of eligible 18-24-year-old, 84 per cent are on the role, as well as 88 per cent of Indigenous Territorians.
“All of those figures are the highest they’ve ever been,” Mr Bloom said.
“So we’ve been very successful in lifting up enrolment across the Territory.”
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