EIGHT is enough - that's how many will stand for the seat of Cowper at the May 18 Federal Election.
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In Kempsey today, the Australian Electoral Commission officially declared there will be eight candidates, and then drew the ballot for the order of names on the voting paper for the Lower House.
The divisional returning officer for Cowper, Barbara Tait, told the Argus the number of nominations was potentially the largest ever for the seat - and certainly the most in recent memory.
Following the declaration of the candidates, Ms Tait conducted a random draw to determine the positions on the ballot paper.
Ruth Meads from the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) drew the favourable number one position.
The Nationals candidate Pat Conaghan was drawn second, followed by Alexander Stewart from the United Australia Party in third.
Andrew Woodward from the Labor Party drew fourth, Independent Robert Oakeshott fifth, Lauren Edwards from the Greens sixth, Kellie Pearce from the Animal Justice Party seventh while Independent Allan Green rounded out the candidates in eighth position.
The Cowper electorate has the most voters in Australia.
A record 16,424,248 Australians are enrolled to vote in the 2019 Federal Election.
This follows almost 100,000 additions to the roll in the week preceding the close of rolls, which has pushed the national enrolment rate to an extraordinary 96.8 per cent.
The official voting day for the Federal Election is on Saturday, May 18, although pre-polling opens on Monday.
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