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State election board draws August primary ballot order, says voided election will not change 2026 districts
Summary
The State Board of Elections drew ballot order for simultaneous filers in seven congressional contests for the Aug. 4 primary, reviewed voter‑education plans and said a recent court ruling that voided an election will not alter congressional districts for 2026.
The State Board of Elections on Monday drew ballot order for simultaneous filers in multiple congressional and local contests set for the Aug. 4 primary and reviewed administrative steps the Department of Elections is taking after a recent court decision.
Commissioner C, who delivered the department report, said the primary ballot order is decided by a random drawing only for candidates who filed at the same time; staff placed names on slips, drew them from a glass bowl and announced the order. He said the department will post the complete candidate list once staff finish verifying submissions and will run expanded voter‑education outreach — including digital ads — to publicize the new August date set by this year’s legislation.
Commissioner C summarized the legal implications of a recent Supreme Court ruling that voided a prior election: “The state board will take no further action on that election,” he said, adding that “the election was held” and localities “fully counted the votes and reported those votes,” and that unofficial results will remain on the department website. He said congressional district maps will not change for 2026 as a result of the ruling.
On administrative matters, staff reported the department has rejoined ERIC as directed by an executive order and is coordinating with ERIC’s technical team. The department is also drafting guidance for local election officials in response to a statewide security executive order and said ongoing pre‑election trainings and law‑enforcement coordination will incorporate any new guidance.
The board certified the ballot‑order determinations after staff completed the drawings for multiple Democratic and Republican congressional contests, including drawn orders announced for the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th congressional districts (Democratic primaries) and the 7th and 10th (Republican primaries). The board discussed that the drawing applies only to candidates listed as having filed simultaneously; candidates who filed later will appear after the drawn order.
The board’s actions leave the department to finish data entry and publicly post the full candidate list and ballot orders before ballot printing and ballot‑preparation deadlines.
