Running For Office
 Filing Petitions |
Posting of Signs |
| Write-in Candidates |
Candidate Campaign Committees |
| Political Party Chairpersons |
Petitions - Filing for office
Nominating petitions are available from election officials on the county and local levels. Petition sheets may be purchased from commercial suppliers or the candidate may make photo copies provided the copies are exactly the same as the original. The style of petition used depends n the office sought.
Michigan Election Law determines the format of the petitions candidates use when collecting signatures (P.A. 116 Section 168.544c).
WHERE ARE PETITIONS FILED?
Congressional Districts 4 & 5; State District 33
File with the Michigan Dept. of State, Bureau of Elections in Lansing
State Representative 94th & 95th Districts
File with the Saginaw County Clerk's Office
State Representative 98th District
File with the Michigan Dept of State, Bureau of Elections in Lansing
County Wide Offices: Prosecutor, Sheriff, County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Public Works Commissioner
File with the Saginaw County Clerk's Office
County Commissioners 1st - 15th Districts
File with the Saginaw County Clerk's Office
Appeals Court Judge, Circuit Court Judges or District Court Judges
File with the Michigan Dept. of State, Bureau of Elections in Lansing
Probate Court Judge
File with the Saginaw County Clerk's Office
City, Township or Village Offices
File with their local clerks (Link to City, Township & Village Addresses)
School Board Members
File with their school district
PETITION FILING DEADLINE
Petitions are filed on or before 4 p.m. on the 12th Tuesday preceding the August Primary Election for state, county and township offices. Petitions for school board candidates are filed on or before 4 p.m. on the 9th Monday before the school election.
FILING FEE INSTEAD OF NOMINATING PETITIONS
Partisan candidates for State Senator, State Representative, County Offices, County Commission Districts may file a filing fee of $100 in lieu of filing nominating petitions.
The filing fee is deposited in the general fund of the county and is refunded to candidates who are nominated and to an equal number of candidates who receive the next highest number of votes in the primary election. If two or more candidates tie in having the lowest number of votes allowing a refund, the sum of $100 shall be divided among them. Candidates who withdraw are not eligible for a refund of the filing fee.
Persons wishing to run with no party affiliation must file qualifying petitions and may not file a filing fee.
INFORMATION REQUIRED ON THE HEADING OF THE PETITION
The heading of each petition sheet must include the candidate's name, address, political party (if applicable), the office sought, the district, the county name, the city/township (if applicable), the date of the election. Petitions for judicial offices must also include information regarding the term of office such as: Regular term/Incumbent Position; Regular term/Non-Incumbent Position; Vacancy/Incumbent Position; Vacancy/Non-Incumbent Position; or New Judgeship. The term expiration of the judicial office must also be included if more than one vacancy is to be filled in the judicial district.
What are the responsibilities of the petition circulator? The petition circulator must be registered to vote in the State of Michigan.
No more than one county and one city/township/village may be listed on a petition sheet. The circulator must indicate whether the jurisdiction is a city or township at the top of the petition.
The circulator must complete the certificate at the bottom of the petition sheet after obtaining the last signature on the sheet. The date on the circulator's certificate must be on or after the date of the signatures. Any signatures dated after the date indicated on the circulator's certificate are invalid.
The petition circulator must only accept signatures from registered voters of the jurisdiction that corresponds with the heading of the petition sheet. All signers should sign their names as they are registered.
All signatures on a petition sheet should be executed in the presence of the circualtor. A circulator is not permitted to leave a petition unsupervised.
The circulator should make sure the signer completes their signature, printed name, address, name of post office (i.e. Saginaw), and date of signing. Zip codes are not required in the post office space of the petition.
If listing a city or township that shares a name with another in the county the "city" or "township" must be indicated. For example, when circulating a county wide petition the distinction must be made between a city or township; such as Saginaw Township and City of Saginaw. Failure to make this distinction will invalidate the signature.
A person is not permitted to sign on behalf of another person including the signer's spouse or dependent.
Posting of Political Signs
Election Sign Ordinance information was compiled by the Saginaw County Clerk's Office to assist candidates and property owners. This information is based on responses received from officials in each jurisdiction. Saginaw County is not the enforcing authority for any jurisdiction. Any questions should be directed to the appropriate City, Township or Village. For Information regarding State Highways, contact the Michigan Department of Transportation.
For a description of the sign ordinances from Saginaw County, please click here.
Write-in Candidate
Candidates wishing to run for a write-in campaign must file a Declaration of Intent with the appropriate filing official by 4 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election in order to have their write-in vote counted.
Candidates wishing to run a write-in campaign for Precinct Delegate must file a Declaration of Intent by 4 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election with the appropriate filing official or at their precinct with the precinct chairperson by the close of polls at 8 p.m. in order to have their write- in vote counted.
This form is available from the Saginaw County Clerk's Office or City/Township Offices.
The Declaration of Intent is waived only if a candidate appearing on the ballot dies or is disqualified on or after the Wednesday immediately preceding the election. In such instances, all write-in votes case will be counted. The waiver does not apply to Precinct Delegate positions.
Candidate Campaign Committee
As soon as an individual becomes a "candidate" under Michigan's Campaign Finance Act, P.A. 388 of 1976, as amended, he/she has 10 calendar days to form a Candidate Committee. After the committee's formation date, the candidate has an additional 10 calendar days to register the committee. A candidate registers a Candidate Committee by filing a Statement of Organization form with his/her filing official (Saginaw County Clerk's Office). A person becomes a candidate under the Campaign Finance Act on the date he/she:
- files a nominating petition, a filing fee or an affidavit of candidacy; or
- receives a contribution or makes an expenditure, or gives consent to someone else to receive a contribution or make an expenditure with a view to bringing about the individual's nomination or election to an elective office; or
- is nominated for an elective office by a political party caucus or convention.
Exception: A candidate who seeks a precinct delegate position is not required to file a Statement of Organization. In addition, a candidate:
- who seeks a school board position in a school district with a pupil membership count of 2,400 or less.
- receives or spends $1,000.00 or less for the election is not required to file a Statement of Organization
A candidate is required to file two copies of this form with the clerk of the county in which he/she resides. Exception: A candidate for a school board seat that will be voted on in more than one county files two copies of this form with the clerk of the county in which the greatest number of votes eligible to vote on the office reside.
A candidate for a state elective office or judicial office is required to file two copies with the Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, P. O. Box 20126, Lansing Michigan 48901.
Political Party Chairpersons - 2007
REPUBLICAN PARTY:
Tim Kelly
22 E. Hannum Blvd.
Saginaw, Michigan 48607
Phone: (989) 797-6759
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
Robert Blaine
10445 Swan Creek Road
Saginaw, Michigan 48609
Phone: (989) 781-0848
