How to pick a random name fairly

Short answer: put every name in the pool once, draw in front of everyone, and remove each winner so nobody is picked twice. A spinning wheel that starts from a random angle on every spin does all three.

What makes a draw feel fair

People trust a draw when they can see it happen, when every name has the same chance, and when the result could not have been predicted. Pulling names from a hat works; so does a wheel on a projector or a phone passed around the table.

Avoid the two common mistakes

First, duplicates: if a winner stays in the pool, the same student can be called three times in a row. Use remove mode so each winner drops off. Second, repeatable spins: some wheel apps restart from the same position after a reset, and users notice the same result coming back. Make sure each spin starts at a random angle.

Classroom, raffle and giveaway tips

For calling on students, paste the class list and turn on remove mode; restore the list at the start of the next lesson. For a raffle, add one slice per ticket. For a giveaway with several prizes, spin once per prize and keep the history as proof.

Doing it with Whirlpick

Paste your names one per line, switch on Remove picked, and spin. Each winner leaves the wheel, the last 100 results are kept with the time, and everything works offline.

How do I stop the same name being picked twice?

Use a remove mode: each winner is taken out of the pool, so every name is drawn exactly once before the list resets.

Is a spinning wheel really random?

It is fair if each spin starts from a random angle. If a wheel always starts from the same spot after a reset, results can repeat.

How do I add a whole class list quickly?

Paste the list with one name per line; each line becomes one slice.