As soon as practicable after the seventy-fourth day before the presidential election, the State Board shall certify to the general registrar of each county and city the form of official ballot for the presidential election which shall be uniform throughout the Commonwealth. Each general registrar shall have the official ballot printed at least 45 days preceding the election. The ballot shall contain the name of each political party and the party group name, if any, specified by the individuals naming electors by petition pursuant to § 24.2-242. Below the party name in parentheses, the ballot shall contain the words “Electors for __________, President and __________, Vice President” with the blanks filled in with the names of the candidates for President and Vice President for whom the candidates for electors are expected to vote in the Electoral College. Groups of petitioners qualifying for a party name under § 24.2-242 shall be treated as a class; the order of the groups shall be determined by lot by the State Board; and the groups shall immediately precede the independent class on the ballot. The names of the candidates within the independent class shall be listed alphabetically.