LABOR candidates will have the benefit of the ‘donkey’ vote at next month’s Great Lakes Council election after being picked first at last week’s ballot draw.

It was a boost for Labor re-election candidates John Weate and Leigh Vaughan, but the news was not so good for the Greens. Party candidates Jacqui Keats and Judy Donnelly were given last slot on the ballot paper.

NSW Electoral Commission spokesperson Adrian Kerr said Great Lakes voters will get a similar ballot to the one used for Senate elections.

“The ballot paper will include group voting squares. The squares will be above the line, and candidates’ names below the line,” he said.

“Ratepayers can vote either above or below the line. Group voting squares are shorthand to voting for several candidates, and were introduced to cut the number of informal votes we had when people were asked to vote for many candidates. It’s the same system used for the Senate and the NSW Upper House.”

An above the line vote is simpler. Voters can put the number 1 next to one candidate group, with an option to preference them across the page.

A below the line vote means marking at least half the number of candidates to be elected.

For Great Lakes there are nine councillor positions, so voters need to mark at least six candidates.

Unlike some local government areas, Great Lakes does not offer ratepayers the chance to vote for their own mayor. The position will go to a vote among the councillors elected on September 13.

Great Lakes Council election candidates:

In order of ballot paper appearance:

Group A: Labor

John Weate, Leigh Vaughan, Louise Collins, Dianne Foster, Josh Kirkman

Group B: Independent

Linda Gill, Christian Patteson, Craig Andrews, Ken Oldfield, Greg Smith

Group C: Independent

Mike Tuffy, Michelle King, Ross Matthews, Emily Owens, Wayne Anderson, Barry O’Bryan, Jess Zammit

Group D: Independent

Len Roberts, Carol McCaskie, George Eadie, Brett Presland, Darcy Peacock, John Keep, Sue Slater

Group E: Independent

John Stephens, Phil Spicer, Peter Keating, Allan Stephens, Max Smith, Greg Randall

Group F: Independent

Jan McWilliams, Karen Hutchinson, Andrew Steell, Brett Fitzsimmons, Ted Bickford, Brian McIlvenna

Group G: The Greens

Jacqui Keats, Judy Donnelly, John Ling, John Smart, Fred O’Brien

Ungrouped

David Schubert (Ind)

Paul Hennelly (The Fishing Party)

John Paterson (Ind)