How to Run for Office in Michigan
Getting on the Ballot
Every Michigan candidate files an Affidavit of Identity - in duplicate - along with either nominating petitions or, for many offices, a $100 filing fee in lieu of petitions. Where you file follows the district: statewide offices and multi-county districts file with the Bureau of Elections in Lansing; districts contained in a single county and county offices file with the county clerk; city and township offices file with the city or township clerk.
The Affidavit of Identity includes a sworn statement that all campaign finance reports, fees, and fines you owe anywhere in Michigan have been filed and paid. The affidavit is enforced with unusual strictness - defects and false statements (even inadvertent ones about paid fees) have removed candidates from the ballot, including major statewide candidates. Complete it carefully, and clear any old campaign finance loose ends before filing.
Independent candidates use qualifying petitions and go straight to the November ballot; the $100 fee option isn't available to them.
Where Local Candidates File
City and township candidates file with their city or township clerk; school board candidates generally file with the county clerk or their school district's designated filing official - confirm which with the county. Campaign finance statements for county and local candidates are filed with the county clerk, while state-level candidates file with the Bureau of Elections under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act.
Worth Knowing
- The Affidavit of Identity is the Michigan trap: in 2022, multiple major gubernatorial candidates were removed from the primary ballot over petition fraud and affidavit issues. Treat every field, the notarization, and the campaign-finance compliance statement as ballot-access critical.
- The $100 filing fee option (available for many partisan offices) is a genuine shortcut past petition gathering - check the Bureau's filing requirements chart for your office.
- Candidates can withdraw only within 3 days after the filing deadline - after that, you're on the ballot.
- Precinct delegate is Michigan's easiest entry into elected politics: just an Affidavit of Identity, no petitions, no campaign finance filings.
Official Michigan Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.