Shooters hit a bullseye with donkey vote in Eden-Monaro by-election

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party have drawn the No 1 spot on ballot paper, with Liberal Fiona Kotvojs to appear last.

Liberal candidate for the seat of Eden-Monaro, Fiona Kotvojs, at her property in Dignams Creek, NSW. Picture: Sean Davey

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party has drawn the coveted No 1 spot on the Eden-Monaro by-election ballot paper.

Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs drew last spot, with Labor candidate Kristy McBain at No 8.

Fourteen candidates will contest the July 4 poll, triggered after former Labor MP Mike Kelly resigned for health reasons.

14 candidates have been formally declared today for the #EdenMonaro by-election. A randomised ballot draw was also conducted. Photo of the list of candidates in ballot paper order 👇 #auspol pic.twitter.com/ZtErD43HX9

— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) June 10, 2020

ABC election analyst Antony Green said it always helped to be at the top of the ballot paper and receive the donkey vote, which could add 0.5 to 1 per cent to a vote, but he did not expect the ballot paper order to make a difference to the end result because Dr Kotvojs was behind Mr Kelly, who had the top spot, at last year’s federal election.

The Shooters will recommend “a vote away” from Dr Kotvojs, whose vote could also be affected by the Nationals deciding to run.

Nationals candidate Trevor Hicks is fifth on the ballot paper.

The NSW marginal electorate of Eden-Monaro was until 2016 a bellwether seat for nearly 50 years and is held by Labor on a margin of 0.85 per cent.