This article explains why RandomPicker prevents re-drawing winners and what to do if you need to select a new one.
RandomPicker is designed to provide sweepstakes organizers with a transparent, unbiased, and trustworthy tool for conducting random drawings. To maintain fairness and prevent manipulation, once a final drawing is completed, the project becomes permanently locked — you cannot re-draw winners or make additional changes. This is one of our key anti-fraud measures, ensuring that published results remain authentic and verifiable.
Why This Limitation Protects Everyone
This restriction isn’t just a technical feature — it’s a safeguard for participants. By preventing organizers from re-opening completed drawings, RandomPicker ensures that:
- Winners cannot be cherry-picked based on preference
- Results cannot be manipulated after the fact
- Organizers cannot run unlimited drawings until they get a “desired” outcome
- Every drawing has a permanent, verifiable record
This locked-project approach builds trust between organizers and participants, making your sweepstakes and promotions more credible.
When You Might Need to Select a New Winner
We understand that situations arise where you may need to select a new winner, such as when:
- A winner is ineligible – For example, if participation required purchasing a product and the winner cannot provide proof of purchase
- A winner doesn’t claim their prize – Most sweepstakes terms include a deadline for winners to respond and claim their prize
- An entry was included by mistake – Sometimes ineligible participants accidentally end up in the entry list
- Eligible entries were accidentally excluded – If you discover missing entries after the drawing, you may want to redo the drawing with the complete list
What to Do When You Can’t Re-Open a Project
Since locked projects cannot be reopened, the solution is straightforward: create a new project and conduct a second drawing. However, this may raise questions from participants, so we recommend following these best practices:
Step 1: Communicate with Participants First
Before conducting a re-draw, announce it through your communication channels:
- Post on your social media or send an email explaining why a re-draw is necessary
- Reference the specific clause in your sweepstakes terms that covers this scenario
- Be transparent about the timeline and process
- Give participants advance notice rather than surprising them with new results
Step 2: Document Your Reasons
Keep records of why the re-draw was necessary:
- Screenshots of unreturned messages or missed deadlines
- Documentation of eligibility issues (missing proof of purchase, age verification, etc.)
- Timestamped communications with the original winner
- Any other evidence that supports your decision
This documentation is valuable if participants question the re-draw and demonstrates you acted in good faith.
Step 3: Add a Note to the Original Results
Navigate to the Share section of your original project and scroll down to the “Notes on results” field. Add a clear explanation, such as: “The original winner did not respond within the required timeframe. A new drawing was conducted on [date].“
This note appears in the public record and can be edited even after the drawing is completed, providing transparency to all participants.
Step 4: Create a New Project for the Re-Draw
To select new winners, create a new project with the same settings and conduct a fresh drawing. Save time by using the “Copy project” feature, which duplicates all entries and settings from your original project. Simply remove any invalid entries before running the new draw.
About Project History: Both the original and new projects will remain visible in RandomPicker’s public records. Participants can view your drawing history (30 days back from the drawing) through a special link in each project’s public record, creating a transparent audit trail. This automatic linking ensures accountability without requiring any additional action from you.
Important: To maintain trust and avoid confusion, ensure your actions comply with your sweepstakes rules and local legal requirements before conducting the second drawing.
How to Prevent Re-Draws in the Future
Verify Eligibility Before Drawing
Take these proactive steps to avoid re-draw situations:
- Review your entry list carefully – Check for duplicate entries, incomplete information, or obviously ineligible participants
- Verify purchase requirements – If entries require proof of purchase, collect and verify documentation before the drawing
- Confirm contact information – Ensure all entries have valid email addresses or phone numbers
- Set clear deadlines – Include response timeframes in your official rules and communicate them clearly
Use Backup Winners
Prevent the need for future re-draws by creating an additional “Backup winners” prize category during your initial drawing. This ensures you have alternate winners ready if primary winners are disqualified or unreachable. Consider drawing 2-3 backup winners for important prizes.
Send Reminders Before Disqualifying
Don’t disqualify winners too quickly:
- Send multiple notifications through different channels (email, social media, phone)
- Give winners a reasonable timeframe to respond (typically 3-7 days, depending on your terms)
- Send a final reminder before the deadline
- Document all communication attempts
Mark Test Drawings Clearly
If you’re trying out RandomPicker, include “Test” in your project name. This signals to anyone viewing the public records that the drawing was for practice purposes, making multiple drawings for the same purpose completely acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will participants see both drawings?
Yes. Both the original and re-draw projects remain visible in RandomPicker’s public records. Participants can view your complete drawing history through the organizer history link included in each project’s public record.
Can I delete the old project?
Not fully. Even if you delete a project, it will remain in RandomPicker’s system and be visible in your organizer history. This ensures the highest level of transparency and prevents any appearance of hiding unfavorable results.
What if participants complain about the re-draw?
Point them to your official sweepstakes rules that outline disqualification criteria and re-draw procedures. Show them the documentation of your attempts to contact the original winner. The transparent project history in RandomPicker also helps demonstrate you followed proper procedures.
By following these practices, you maintain the credibility and transparency of your drawings — the core values RandomPicker was built to protect.
