To be on the Oct. 7 ballot to replace California Gov. Gray Davis, a candidate must pay a $3,500 filing fee and submit the signatures of 65 registered California voters by 5 p.m. PDT Aug. 9. A candidate can avoid paying the fee by submitting 10,000 signatures.

Once the candidates have turned in the fee and signatures, they are considered qualified for the ballot. Their candidacies will be officially certified as on the ballot Aug. 13, when the secretary of state's office has verified the signatures.

At 11 a.m. PDT Aug. 11, a random will take place to determine the spot on the ballot for each candidate.

Anyone interested in voting in the Oct. 7 election must register by Sept. 22.