CITIZENS Electoral Council candidate Lindsay Cosgrove will likely pick up disengaged donkey votes at the upcoming election, with his name appearing at the top of the ballot paper.
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The six minor party candidates congregated in the AEC Returns Office in Goldsmith St on Friday afternoon for the ballot draw.
A blind folded staff member delivered the verdict to the group by randomly selecting bingo balls from a barrel.
Mr Cosgrove drew pole position, followed by Katter Australia Party’s Bruce Nicholson; Independent James Harker-Mortlock; Labor’s Michael Pilbrow; Liberal Party frontrunner Angus Taylor; Palmer United Party candidate Jason Cornelius; Christian Democrat Adrian Van Der Byl; Green Zaza Chevalier; and finally, One Nation’s Lynette Styles.
The shearer/small property owner told the Post he couldn’t be happier with his placement and believed it would give him an advantage.
Ms Styles was also happy with her spot, saying she didn’t mind being the ‘tail end of the donkey’.
“I’m very happy with last,” she said.
“(If I’m positioned) first or last I don’t mind.
I don’t mind being the donkey. I’ve been the donkey before and I’m pleased to be the donkey again.”
Similarly, Mr Nicholson was pleased with his position.
“Number two? Well, you can only get one better than that can’t you? So, I’m very happy, he said.”
Mr Harker-Mortlock was glad to be placed ahead of both the Labor Party and the Liberal Party candidates.
He believed it would make a difference.
“I think (the position on the ballot paper) does make a difference in an election year when people are disconnected and I think they are this year,” he said.
“I think people are a bit annoyed with all of the major parties so I think there will be quite a few people who will just go down the form.”
Not everybody agrees with this assessment however, like Adrian Van Der Byl, who believes the people who are inclined to vote for him will do so anyway.
This sentiment was echoed by the Greens and Labor.
While Miss Chevalier’s campaign manager Bill Dorman told the Post that second last wasn’t the greatest position, nobody would lose any sleep over it.
“There is a small percentage of donkey voters out there, so yes, it does make a difference but to the thinking person it doesn’t,” he said.
“I think people who are going to put Greens number one will do so no matter where we’re positioned on the ballot paper.”
Mr Pilbrow wasn’t fazed by fourth spot.
“I’m just happy to be on the ballot paper at all, participating in the democratic process,” he said.
“Being near the middle is fine. People who want to vote for me will find my name.”
Mr Taylor said that regardless of candidates’ ballot positions, he anticipated Hume voters would take their vote seriously and cast it for the candidate and party they believed best represented their interests.
“Voters’ wisdom always ensures the right result on election day!” he said.
Hume ballot paper
1. Lindsay Cosgrove, Citizens Electoral Council
2. Bruce Nicholson, Katter Australia Party
3. James Harker-Mortlock, Independent
4. Michael Pilbrow, Australian Labor Party
5. Angus Taylor, Liberal Party
6. Jason Cornelius, Palmer United Party
7. Adrian Van Der Byl, Christian Democrat Party
8. Zaza Chevalier, Greens
9. Lynette Styles, One Nation