Prior to each election the State Board of Elections conducts a drawing to determine which political party candidates will appear first on the ballot. This drawing is conducted prior to each election and the results of the drawing apply to all offices elected on that election day.

For the May 2, 2000 elections, the result of the Board's drawing was as follows:

First position: Democrat
Second position: Republican

Independent (non-party) candidates are always listed after political party candidates and appear alphabetically within the Independent grouping (Lorraine M. Thompson, electronic mail, April 25, 2000).

In first position for the Charlottesville City Council race on May 2, 2000, Democrats Maurice D. Cox, Kevin J. Lynch, and Meredith M. Richards will be in the first position. Republicans Jon D. Bright, Elizabeth B. Fortune, and John L. Pfaltz will be in the second position. And Kevin P. Cox and Stratton J. Salidis will be in the third position followed by three spaces for write-in candidates.