How The Order Of Names On A Ballot Impacts Election Results

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Where a candidate’s name appears on an election ballot can affect how many votes they receive. Did you know that? Several studies have examined this topic, known as the ballot order effect.
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Before I get to that, it is important to note that not all ballots are equal. Depending on the election and geographic location of that election, ballots can look very different. Candidate names may be listed alphabetically, by incumbency, by political party, or randomly.

The Lottery Draw
In Princeton, once the nomination period ends and the list of candidates has been declared and announced publicly, there is a “lottery” draw. Essentially, all candidate names go into a hat or bowl or some other kind of vessel, and are drawn out one at a time to determine placement on the ballot. This is a common practice in many municipalities.

The main reason for the draw is to provide voters with a random list of candidates when they open their ballots. It also makes it fair for candidates who have last names that start with letters near the end of the alphabet. They have a chance, through the draw, to see their names move up the list from where they would have been in alphabetical order.

It also works the other way by moving names that begin with letters in the first half of the alphabet around to other positions on the ballot. For example, in the upcoming October 17, 2026 municipal election, there are 9 candidates seeking election to 4 seats as Councillor. If listed alphabetically, my name (George Elliott) would top the ballot. After the random draw, my name now appears in the 4th position on the ballot.

I like that it makes things fair and removes any potential edge. But, according to the ballot order effect, there is still a slight edge to being near the top of a ballot.

Ballot Order Effect
By definition, the ballot order effect refers to voting behaviour related to where a candidate's name appears on an election ballot. This usually results in candidates near the top of the ballot receiving a slightly increased number of votes compared to names further down the list.

A Study Verifies This
A study that appears in the March 2018 issue of the Canadian Journal of Political Science states, “the order in which municipal candidates' names appear on ballots can have an impact on how many votes they receive — particularly when they don't have the party affiliations that help signal to voters where they stand on the issues.”

Co-authoured by Charles Tessier of Laval University and Alexandre Blanchet of McGill University, the study looked at Quebec municipal and provincial election results between 2008 and 2014.

They say that there are distinct differences between provincial/federal and municipal elections primarily due to party affiliations. This means a voter may not know their local candidate, but will be familiar with political parties and that influences their voting by making their choice easier to make.

Municipal elections are very different, as party affiliations are not typically the case, with the exception of a handful of big cities. So, the study indicates that without party cues and less visibility as a result, voters must do more homework to learn about the candidates.

For many, it is just easier to mark their ballots by choosing the first few names they see or just names they know, for whatever reason. The study actually shows that names in the top 2 positions on a ballot do better than the rest of the candidates. Although the total number of votes is marginal, the top spots are still beneficial.

Conclusion
Even in small town politics, where your name appears on an election ballot can have an impact on the number of votes you receive. It may not be a huge edge, but it is still an advantage to appear near the top of a ballot.

My name is George Elliott. I am seeking re-election to the Princeton Town Council.
Advance Polls October 7, 2026
Election Day October 17, 2026 8AM-8PM
Princeton & District Community Skills Centre
206 Vermilion Avenue, Princeton

Article Source:
“How Your Last Name Could Cost You An Election,” CBC News, April 2018
Canadian Journal of Political Science, March 2018 issue