Photo by d. scruggs.

The District’s Board of Elections and Ethics conducted its lottery for the District’s citywide special election on April 26 this afternoon. Here’s what the ballot for the at-large D.C. Council seat will look on election day:

  • Alan Page
  • Dorothy Douglas
  • Bryan Weaver
  • Arkan Haile
  • Joshua Lopez
  • Patrick Mara
  • Sekou Biddle
  • Tom Brown
  • Vincent Orange
  • Write-In, if any

The question is whether drawing last in the lottery will have any tangible effect on Orange’s chances of winning. On the surface, it seems like it could — in an election with traditionally very low turnout, any advantage, however slight, could play a part. In addition, science says that having your name at the top of a ballot can, in certain electoral situations, can provide a slight advantage — not to mention the boost of confidence that can come with being at the top. (Hear that, Alan Page?)

As far as this election goes, people who have not been following the race all along will have to at least look at every candidate’s name before they cast a vote for Orange. Then again, if recent polling that shows Orange holding an enormous lead prove anywhere close to accurate, it won’t really matter that much.

Filed Under: at-large, ballot, BOEE, council, election, special election, vincent orange,