How does Ballot Work?

Sorry if this has already been discussed but i am useless with the search engine!

How does the Ballot work for the FLM? I've just sent off my very first application and whilst i'm not expecting to get in any time soon (I reckon i'll be one of those who gets a go after the 5th attempt!) I was wondering how they do pick people? Are all the names put in a database and the computer ramdonly selects them?

Actually thinking about it Dave Bedford is loony enough to have an oompah loompah workforce.

I have been entering the ballot for 13 years now and at the end of the day its down to three things

1/ Predicted finish time

2/ Number of times rejected in last 5 years  

3/ Number of times excepted in last 5 years

It has nothing to do with where you live, your occupation, or what you do for a living as some people have suggested. Up until last years if you were rejected you actually got the whole application back unopened. So they only know 3 things from the outside of the envelope

My theory is that it has to do with the predicted finish time, I read an article a long time ago by Dave Bedford who stated that it is important to get a constant flow through the finish. Therfore they need to put in so many from each time slot going in quarter hour slots as per the application form. After they have all these then I think it goes down to point 2 and 3. I envisage that all the time categories and laid out in massive 'blocks' and a certain amount are selected from each - after that they maybe selected from points 2 ansd 3 or maybe not I am unsure of that

Certain about point 1 though - and if you think about it it wiould be chaos if they had 3k finishing between 3:45 - 4:00 and 500 between 4:00 and 4:15 which fesably could happen if the did not take into account peoples finishing time

However having said that I am sure there are many more people applied stating they will finish in under 3 when they know they will take 5 hours so as carefull as they can be about the constant flow I am sure there is every possibility it will go awry

Oh yes...let the stampede of posts begin

I am rather hoping the cheques will be presented on the 31st oe maybe even 1st as I am running rather low in the account I wrote the cheque from ! 

I'm not even sure they bother sorting by the time you say on the envelope.

1. How many peoples times are accurate to the prediction made 7 months before

2. Wouldnt a random selection of entrants provide the same spread of times ?

3.30...I'm also hoping cheques will be presented from the 31st...or it could be 'bouncy bouncy' down at my bank...the horror!!

Just out of curiosity...say your cheque did erm be declined...would they try and represent it...or laugh hysterically and give your place to someone else...oh the shame!!

I have spoken to the FLM people and they cash the cheques on the last couple days in October or the first couple of days in November so you should be okay.

Yes if your cheque does bounce they reject you

It would be terrible to get rejected in the cheque bounced

Phew...mind saying that...it would be just my luck to actually get in through the ballot & they then ask my bank for the money on the 30th...the day before payday!!

Morgs

I will be checking every morning after next Friday before 9am if a cheque is presented I will be on the blower to the bank to ensure they honour it - if they say they will not I will be onto FLM, to ensure they represent - or to pay on a CC - they must have the means to do this

You never know one day the might move into this century and do all applications on the web not just the few they done this year. If its a success I can see the rolling this out for 2009.