[State Board of Elections] State Board to Determine Ballot Order for 2024 Elections with Random Drawing | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH, N.C.     State Board of Elections staff will hold a drawing and coin flip at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, to randomly determine the order of candidates on ballots for the 2024 primary and general elections.

    The candidate filing period for most 2024 elections ends at noon Dec. 15.

    Members of the public may access the event in three ways:

• Online: Webex (Webinar Number: 2430 137 2717; Password: NCSBE)
• By Phone: 1-415-655-0003 (Access Code 2430 137 2717#; Password: 62723)
• In person in the Board Room at the State Board of Elections in the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh NC 27603.

    Video of the event will be posted to the State Board website, and a press release with results will be published Friday afternoon.

    The State Board is required to randomly determine the order of candidates on the ballot, according to N.C.G.S. § 163-165.6(c). The order will be determined by selecting a single ball out of a bingo machine, with the letter on the ball corresponding with the first letter of a candidate's last name. Candidates whose last names begin with the letter drawn will appear first on the ballot for their contest.

    A subsequent coin flip will determine whether additional candidates will follow in alphabetical order (heads) or reverse alphabetical order (tails).

    This ballot order drawing applies to all 2024 primary and general election contests except for municipal contests. Candidates for municipal office are listed in strict alphabetical order beginning with A, according to state law.

    Lists of candidates may be found on the State Board website: Candidate Lists. These lists are updated routinely.

    The 2024 primary election is March 5. The general election is Nov. 5.


   Contact: Patrick Gannon
   Public Information Director
   Email: patrick.gannon@ncsbe.gov