Friday, August, 16, 2024
Random Alphabet Draw to determine order of candidates’ names on the ballot
The California Secretary of State and the Yolo County Elections Office each conducted a random drawing on Thursday, August 15, 2024, of the letters of the alphabet in accordance with Elections Code section 13112.
This randomized alphabet determines the order of candidates’ names on the ballot for the Tuesday, November 5, 2024, General Election and is an example of fairness and impartiality in elections held in California.
This randomized alphabet applies to the candidate's name, starting last name first, followed, if necessary, by first name, then middle name.
If more than one candidate's last name begins with the same letter, election staff proceed to the second letter and, if needed, the third. Election staff follow this process until a different letter appears allowing staff to determine who appears first on the ballot. For example, if two candidates with the last names Campbell and Carlson are running for the same office, their order on the ballot will depend on the order in which the letters "M" and "R" were drawn in the randomized alphabet drawing.
Listed below are the official results for the local and state alphabet drawings.
County Randomized Alphabet Drawing conducted at the Yolo County Elections office for:
- State Senator
- Member of the State Assembly
1. L | 7. Q | 13. O | 19. W | 25. B |
2. S | 8. D | 14. U | 20. G | 26. T |
3. A | 9. X | 15. V | 21. R |
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4. E | 10. P | 16. J | 22. K |
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5. C | 11. I | 17. N | 23. F |
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6. Z | 12. Y | 18. M | 24. H | |
To further ensure fairness in our election process, the Yolo County Elections Office rotates the ballot order of candidates in countywide, State Senate, and State Assembly contests by County Supervisorial District, according to Elections Code section 13111.
For example, a State Assembly candidate appearing first on the list of candidate names on ballots issued to voters living in the 1st Supervisorial District will be last on the list for the voters living in the 2nd Supervisorial District. Names advance on the list so that a candidate appearing fifth in the alphabet sequence will be at the top of the list of candidates for that office in the 5th Supervisorial District.
Secretary of State Random Alphabet Draw for:
- Statewide Contests*
- United States Representative in Congress and State Board of Equalization†
- County offices‡
- City offices, School and Special District offices§
1. I | 7. H | 13. Y | 19. X | 25. S |
2. F | 8. Q | 14. R | 20. K | 26. Z |
3. L | 9. M | 15. P | 21. U |
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4. T | 10. J | 16. C | 22. N |
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5. D | 11. G | 17. B | 23. O |
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6. E | 12. A | 18. V | 24. W |
To ensure additional fairness in the election process, the candidate names not only appear in the “new” randomly drawn alphabet order, but the candidate’s name at the top of list is rotated so that no candidate is always the first one, if possible. This is according to Elections Code section 13111
* For statewide contests such as United States Senator, names of candidates are rotated based on State Assembly District. The candidates are first listed in the order based on the random alphabet drawing, but the sequence of the names listed on the ballot depends on the voter’s Assembly District. The candidate listed first on ballots issued to voters in the 1st Assembly District, will be last on the list for voters in the 2nd Assembly District. After the 2021 Redistricting from the 2020 Census, all of Yolo County is in the 4th Assembly District.
† For United States Representatives in Congress, the rotation of the names of candidates is based on the Assembly Districts that are contained within the Congressional District.
‡ For countywide offices, although the state’s random alphabet drawing sets the order of the candidate names listed on the ballot, the sequence of the names rotates based on County Supervisorial District.
§ School Districts, City offices, and Special Districts use the State Randomized Alphabet without rotation. In some instances where a district is in more than one County Supervisorial District, the sequence of the names rotates based on County Supervisorial District.
People with questions can contact the Yolo County Elections Office by email at elections@yolocounty.gov or by phone at (530) 666-8133 or our Toll-Free Voter Assistance Hotline (800) 649-9943.
The Elections Office encourages residents to connect with Yolo County ACE – Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections on Facebook: @YoloACE, Instagram: @YoloCoACE, Threads: @YoloCoACE, YouTube: @Yolo County ACE, TikTok: @yolocoace and X:@YoloCoACE to receive the most up to date information. The 2024 Election Administration Plan can be read at: Voter's Choice Act — Yolo County Elections Office (yoloelections.org).
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