The Deadline to file — April 23 — is less than 3 months away.
2024 FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS
(Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk/Register, Treasurer, Drain Commissioner)
• Major Party Candidates:
Major Party candidates must file partisan nominating petitions OR a $100 filing fee, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 [MCL 168.193].
Candidates who submit a valid filing for office will be placed on the August 6, 2024 Primary Election ballot.
• Candidates Without Political Party Affiliation:
Candidates without political party affiliation must file qualifying petitions no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2024 [MCL 168.590c]. Candidates without political party affiliation may not file a $100 filing fee in lieu of qualifying petitions.
Candidates without political party affiliation who submit a valid filing for office will be placed on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot.
• Minor Party Candidates:
A candidate seeking the office of County Commissioner as a minor party candidate must receive nomination to the office at the party’s nominating convention. The party’s convention must be held no later than August 6, 2024. The minor party must have ballot status in Michigan [MCL 168.686a].
Within one business day after the conclusion of the nominating convention, party officials must submit a Certificate of Nomination to document the individual’s nomination to the office, an Affidavit of Identity completed by the candidate, and a Certificate of Acceptance (completed by the candidate). Such candidates will appear on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot.
AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY REQUIRED OF ALL CANDIDATES
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity when filing for office. Under Public Act 394 of 1984, a candidate who fails to file an Affidavit of Identity as required cannot be placed on the ballot. PA 217 of 1999 requires any candidate filing an Affidavit of Identity to state on the form that at the date the affidavit was executed all statements, reports, late filing fees, and fines required of the candidate or any candidate committee organized to support the candidate’s election under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act have been filed or paid. Therefore, a candidate may not have any outstanding notices of failure to file or late fees with any filing official in the state.
CANDIDATE WITHDRAWAL
Candidates must withdraw, in writing, with their filing official by the dates below:
Major Party Candidates: Friday, April 26, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. [MCL 168.194] Candidates Without Political Party Affiliation: Monday, July 22, 2024 by 4:00 p.m. [MCL 168.590c]
Minor Party Candidates: Candidates nominated and certified via convention shall not be permitted to withdraw. [MCL 168.686a]
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
All candidates are required to comply with the Campaign Finance Act filing requirements. Please be sure to either file an Original Statement of Organization to establish a Campaign Finance Committee within 20 calendar days to the County Clerk’s office or file an amended Statement of Organization to update any information so it is current.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must be a qualified and registered elector of the district they wish to represent by the filing deadline. [MCL 168.191] A candidate must also be in compliance with the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. (All statements, reports, late filing fees, and fines due from any Candidate Committee organized to support an election to office under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, PA 388 of 1976, have been filed or paid)
PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS
Petition signature requirements are based on population of the district according to the 2020 census.
Partisan Petition
Min: 1,000
Max: 2,000
Qualifying Petition
Min: 3,000
Max: 6,000
FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITE-IN CANDIDATES
A candidate who wishes to seek the Republican and Democratic Party nomination to the office of County Commissioner with write-in votes must file a Declaration of Intent with the appropriate filing official no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024 [MCL 168.737a].
A candidate without political party affiliation who wishes to seek election to the office of County Commissioner with write-in votes must file a Declaration of Intent with the appropriate filing official no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024 [MCL 168.737a].
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
Kent County Elections Division
300 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-632-7650 michael.sullivan@kentcountymi.gov