PUP take out top spot on Canning ballot

The Palmer United Party has had a minor win in the Canning by-election campaign by taking out the top spot on the ballot paper.

The order in which the 12 candidates' names appear on voting cards was declared in a draw on Friday and decided the support of donkey voters - people who list their preferences from the top down because of apathy or protest.

The decided order means PUP candidate Vimal Sharma could claim double-figure support as a result of his prime position.

Last federal election PUP received 6.9 per cent of the vote in Canning, one of the party's best results in Western Australia.

Liberal Democrat Connor Whittle will also get a boost from his position in second place, with voters previously confusing the party for the similarly named Liberals.

Meanwhile, the Liberals and Labor have not gained any advantage over each other with their spots in sixth and eighth, respectively.

The Greens have also lost the benefit of the donkey vote by drawing ninth.

The by-election, which was triggered by the sudden death of long-standing Liberal MP Don Randall, will be held on September 19.