The election was managed by the then-
President of the United Nations General Assembly Paul-Henri Spaak of
Belgium. All 51
then-members were to write the names of the six nations they wished to elect to the Security Council. No previous candidacies were made.
New Zealand expressed its wishes for a member from the South Pacific to be elected, with
Australia being the "obvious choice" in their opinion, and themselves refraining from candidacy. The representative of the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic made a proposal for the membership to be elected, consisting of
Brazil,
Egypt,
Mexico, New Zealand,
Norway, and
Poland. Following this proposal, the representatives of both New Zealand and Norway declined of candidating themselves. The results of the votes were as follows:
First round With 50 valid and one not valid papers, one paper being valid with only 4 names on it: This resulted in the election of Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Poland to the Council, all of them having achieved the requisite two-thirds majority of 34 votes. One seat remained to be filled, and the rules required for that one nation to be elected from the two most successful candidates not elected; that is, Australia or Canada. This was to be decided upon in a second vote.
Second round With 50 valid and one not valid papers: This round was inconclusive, as neither nation obtained the required 34 votes.
Third round With 51 valid papers: This round was also inconclusive, however, Canada then retired its candidacy.
Fourth round With 49 valid and two not valid papers: Australia was thus elected as the sixth non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. ==Voting on term length==