Question about candidates' order on ballots...

[kcass1954]

I'm going to early-vote because I'm a poll worker in another precinct. I pulled out the sample ballot that came from the SOE several weeks ago. I usually mark it up and take it with me when I vote so I'm in and out fairly quickly. I've looked at it several times since I got it, but something struck me today - the candidates are listed in order of party, with the repub candidate first, then the Dem candidate, then Independent, etc. The only time a Dem candidate is first is when there is no repub running. Is there some protocol for how they should be listed? I always thought it was done alphabetically.

Here's my sample ballot online - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2509830

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I believe the order is based on when they signed up to run

At least I am pretty sure that is how it is where I live. It also may be ABC order in some locations.

[LA lady]

2. Mine is alphabetical

Artis R. Cash, Sr., Democrat, Ballot # 22
Patti Cox, Democrat, Ballot # 23
Chester T. Kelley, Republican, Ballot # 24
"Jim" McCrery, Republican, Ballot # 25

[Towlie]

3. Here's the reason.

When a touch-screen goes out of calibration, it tends to drift higher rather than lower, so that the touched area registers above where you actually touched.

[kcass1954]

6. That would explain the check in the box next to junior's name after

I touched the box by Kerry's name in 04.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. It all depends on your state or county

Sometimes, candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Sometimes, the incumbent is always listed first. Sometimes, they are in a random order (I don't remember where I was living at the time, but there was one place I lived where the county elections official, in the presence of the media, put the names of all the candidates of a given race into a bag, mixed them, and the representatives of the media took turns pulling names back out; that decided the ballot order.)

The question is better asked of your local elections board.

[Nite Owl]

5. On our ballots in NYS

the lines are determined by who won the Governor's seat in the last election. So Line A is R because Pataki (R) won and the dems are Line B.
There are very few electronic machines in NY, it is a requirement that all candidates be on one page so the ones that have been made by the companies for NYS (prototypes) are huge, the screen has to have everyone on it.