There will be a whopping 13 candidates for the Kiama by-election on 13 September but Family First hopeful Kyle Napoleoni was excluded after the NSW Electoral Commission did not accept his nomination.

Dr Tonia Gray was the lucky winner of Friday’s ballot draw - she will be the first name on the list followed by the Liberal Party’s Serena Copley.

Labor nominee Katelin McInerney was drawn down at the bottom in the 13th spot, one behind Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds.

McInerney, Copley, Gray and Dezarnaulds are considered the main chances of winning the seat that was left vacant by former independent MP Gareth Ward’s resignation following his conviction for sexual assault offences.

There are five independent candidates as well as representatives from Legalise Cannabis Party, Libertarian Party, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice Party and the Shoorters, Fishers, Farmers.

The ballot draw is:

1 Tonia Gray (Greens)

2 Serena Copley (Liberals)

3 Andrew Thaler (Independent)

4 Roger Woodward (Independent)

5 Don Fuggle (Legalise Cannabis Party)

6 Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia)

7 Lisa Cotton (Independent)

8 Jeufo Cyril (Indpendent)

9 Felix Nelson (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers)

10 Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party)

11 Ellie Robertson (Animal Justice Party)

12 Kate Dezarnaulds (Independent)

13 Katelin McInerney (Labor)

Candidates had until Thursday to nominate and Family First issued a statement after Napoleoni’s bid was rejected because the party had not been registered in NSW for the minimum 12-month period.

“These petty rules, which only exist in NSW, seem designed by the major parties to make it hard for smaller parties,” Family First national director Lyle Shelton said.

“When it comes to election rules, the fix is in by NSW Liberal and Labor. Nothing unites the major parties more than keeping the competition out.”

Serena Copley at the ballot draw in Nowra.

Copley was happy to get second spot on the ballot and used the draw in Nowra as a chance to continue her attack on the Labor Government’s record in the Kiama electorate.

"This by-election matters. It’s about who will deliver for Kiama. People have a choice between the Liberals, with a proven record of delivery, or Labor and the minor parties who can’t, or have failed to deliver for Kiama,” she said.

“The Liberals have a plan to deliver better infrastructure, services and support for our community. For two years Kiama has been forgotten by Labor, and local households and families are paying the price. They are only paying attention now because there is a by-election.

“Don’t reward Labor for their neglect of Kiama."

McInerney was philosophical about her poor fortune at the draw.

"I think it's a number on a page. It's my partner's lucky number, though, and it keeps popping up in the campaign, so hopefully that's a good sign," she said.

"What's more important is getting out and talking to voters, which I have been doing over the past couple of weeks, but also over the past couple of years, it's been a really difficult time for our community, and I'm hearing that people will be voting for a strong and for, quite frankly, a vocal person, for our region to really bring down the investment and so we can rebuild our infrastructure, rebuild our essential services.

"And that's certainly what I intend to be, a strong voice working as part of a Labor government to continue delivering for our area."