Perhaps someone could explain something to me:
Why do all of West Virginia's online sample ballots list Republican candidates first in every race? Let me explain, I went online today in order to verify my choices of candidates for this upcoming election. When I went to the
West Virginia Secretary of State's sample ballots page, I found that every race on my county's various sample ballots always listed Republican candidates first. Let me show you and example.
First, take a look at the first page of an Ohio County (WV)
sample ballot
Notice that the Republican party appears first in the straight ticket listing, the race for US Senator, and the race for the US House, WV-01. This order occurs for every race listed on the Ohio County sample ballot for all precincts.
Moreover, when no Republican candidate is filed for the office, a "no candidate filed" box is still listed first. Here is another example from the Ohio County Commissioners race:
Democrat Tim McCormick is listed between two no candidates. The Mountain Party is listed in every race, too, which is quite unlike previous ballots.
Finally, it should be noted that this Republican-first occurance happens on EVERY WEST VIRGINIA SAMPLE BALLOT listed at the West Virginia Secretary of State's website. If I were Nick Casey, I'd be doing something about it.
Now, I will give Betty Ireland (the Republican Secretary of State) the benefit of the doubt on this one. Perhaps a fair decision (such as a coin toss) was made and determined that Republicans be listed first. I'm really not sure, but someone else should find this very peculiar.