How to Run a Fair Draw

A draw is the process of randomly selecting a set number of winners from a group of candidates. The key to a fair draw is that every candidate has an equal chance of winning, and no one can rig the outcome in advance.

Shuffling to remove bias

The safest way to pick winners is to shuffle the entire list randomly and then take as many as you need from the top. A widely used technique for this is the Fisher–Yates shuffle, which guarantees every possible ordering is equally likely.

• Once the list is properly shuffled, taking the first few names introduces no bias
• To avoid picking the same person twice, just draw in order after shuffling
• Removing duplicate names beforehand helps keep the draw fair

Running it in a way people can trust

If you're running a draw in front of a group, it helps to keep the list visible and let everyone watch the drawing happen live. That way, everyone can see for themselves that the result is decided on the spot, with nothing predetermined.

RANDOMBOX's random draw shuffles the list with Fisher–Yates to determine winners, and shows the slots spinning so it's clear the result is decided right then and there.

Common mistakes

Picking in a predictable pattern, like "every third name," or using only part of an unshuffled list can introduce bias. Always make it a habit to shuffle the entire list randomly before drawing.