Candidate Status Report in CA

Party Total Pending Completed Certified Democratic 133 130 3 0 Republican 111 110 1 0 American Independent 4 4 0 0 Green 9 9 0 0 Libertarian 7 6 1 0 Natural Law 1 1 0 0 Peace and Freedom 3 3 0 0 Independent 88* 86 2 0 Total 356 349 7 0

Now here comes my question. When it gets to the status of "certified", does that mean that the candidate has made it onto the ballot? And how many candidates will get "certified"? Here is the next real important question. Does ballot position effect how you do? Since Bustamente's name is at the beginning of the alpahbet and Scharnegger is near the bottom, will that affect how the voting takes place? Has there been any studies that address that question?

That was declared unconstitutional many years ago.

how do they determine the place on the ballot?

Names are palced randomly in different precincts, at least that's what I was lead to believe in the two elections that I ran in.

They will group candidates by parties, if that's any help.