Three of the four women in the eight-horse race took the top positions on the official election ballot for the 2019 New England federal election, to be held on May 18.

The ballot was drawn by the electoral commission in Armidale on Wednesday and three independents are set to battle it out against the Nationals, Labor, Greens and Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

Christian Democrats' Julie Collins is second on the ballot, followed by Labor's Yvonne Langenberg and incumbent Nationals MP, Barnaby Joyce.

Greens' candidate Tony Lonergan is fifth, followed by independent Adam Blakester and then Rob Taber.

Clive Palmer United Australia Party candidate Cindy Ann Duncan is last.

READ ALSO:

For Mr Blakester, the positions didn't matter too much.

"I think six is a very lucky number. We're not on a horse track, so there's no inside edge here. I'm looking forward to the candidate forums and discussing real priorities and policy issues with the incumbent," he said.

Mr Taber conceded his name wasn't in the best spot.

"It's not a very big field, so it probably won't make a lot of difference," he said.

Ms Langenberg said she believed number three was going to be a lucky number.

"It's just a ballot. I think people will make up their minds on what each candidate stands for and what each candidate has to say," she said.

Voters will head to the polls on May 18.

Support the local news that keeps you informed - subscribe today