Why is Marianne Williamson's name first on the Virginia Democratic ballot?

[phylny]

I looked online but couldn't find out why.

[IronLionZion]

1. Ladies first for Dems?

Nikki Haley is last on the GOP side.



I think our side can figure out who to vote for.

[phylny]

2. I have no doubt our side can figure out who to vote for.

I just asked a question

[Ocelot II]

3. Maybe they are listed in the order they filed as candidates?

[LiberalFighter]

8. I'm not aware of any state using that method.

[Ocelot II]

9. I'm not either; just a wild guess. I don't know how any of them do it.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Generally they draw names

[AZSkiffyGeek]

4. In AZ they are randomly assigned to avoid favoring any candidate

I'm not sure what the concern is.

[phylny]

5. Just a question!

[phylny]

6. It looks like the names were drawn. Thanks for the help, I used the wrong search terms.

Here's one of the reasons I was asking:

https://vadogwood.com/2021/04/01/state-board-of-elections-selects-ballot-order-certifies-election/

The Ballot Order Effect

The positioning of names on a ballot might sound like an insignificant detail, but studies show elections can be won or lost based on the location of a candidates name. This phenomenon is called the “ballot order effect.”

In 1975, the American Journal of Political Science published a report called “The Effect of Ballot Position on Electoral Success.”

The findings, which originated from a controlled experimental study, assessed the impact of name identification, the length of the ballot and the number of candidates on election results.

The study found that those listed first enjoyed a favorable advantage. Interestingly, the number of candidates on the ballot did not appear to impact that finding. However, a low slot on the ballot could be overcome with name recognition, the study found.

[yellowdogintexas]

7. probably a ballot draw.

Our candidates draw numbers for their positions on a primary ballot.
Each office is a separate drawing, and each county holds its own drawing.
We always have a party since it is right before Christmas.