A blindfolded commission employee draws numbered marbles out of a steel-wire barrel.

The first draw gives the candidates their numbers.

The marbles go back in, the barrel is spun and the all-important second draw gives those numbers their position on the ballot paper.

And so it was that at the Newcastle electoral commission office in Tudor Street, Hamilton, yesterday that candidate number six, Liberal Brad Luke, was the first marble drawn from the second barrel, giving him first place on the Newcastle ballot paper.

Labor incumbent Sharon Grierson drew sixth spot of seven, continuing what she said had been a run of poor positions.

In Paterson, incumbent Liberal Bob Baldwin drew fifth spot while his Labor challenger Jim Arneman drew sixth.

All three high-profile candidates, near the bottom of the ballot paper, argued that getting the donkey vote was not as important as it was once held to be.

"It's the policies that count," Ms Grierson said.

She recounted a list of Labor achievements on which the government had spent $1.5 billion in Newcastle since the 2007 election.

Mr Luke had a different view, saying "being a safe Labor seat makes it difficult for Newcastle", noting the seat had not returned a federal minister since the late Charlie Jones in the early 1970s.

At the Paterson draw, Mr Baldwin and Mr Arneman shook hands reluctantly before the marbles were drawn, before resuming hostilities in one of the nation's most marginal seats.

Charlton MP Greg Combet was the only sitting member to emerge at the top of the ballot paper.

A scan through the candidates' names reveals a mixture of old hands and first-timers.

One political newcomer was Newcastle Australian Democrats candidate Dean Winter, operator of the Royal Exchange theatrical venue in Bolton Street, Newcastle.

Christian Democratic Party Newcastle candidate Milton Caine said he had run in various campaigns and was not disillusioned by only receiving a small percentage of the vote.