City Elections are held in the City of Ann Arbor every year. Elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August (Primary) and November (General). Special elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May or the fourth Tuesday in February as needed. The City Clerk is the City's chief elections officer and is responsible for the administration of all City Elections. One councilmember from each of the City's five wards is elected each year in November. The Mayor is elected in even-year elections in November.
City Elections
Municipal elections in the City of Ann Arbor are open and PARTISAN. Candidates' political party affiliations are listed on the ballot. However, it is not necessary to declare political party preference in order to vote in a primary election in the City of Ann Arbor. To vote in any city election, you must be a qualified voter in the State of Michigan and the City of Ann Arbor.
Primary Elections
Pursuant to City Charter (13.4), City Primary elections for Mayor and City Council are held only if necessary. If "petitions have been filed for no more than one candidate for the office from each political party nominating candidates therefor, no primary election shall be held respective to that office."
The filing deadline to run as a partisan City Council candidate in 2013 is May 14, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. Those candidates who wish to run without party affiliation (independent) have until August 7, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. to file petitions.
Qualifications for City Office and Filing Petitions
The Ann Arbor City Charter requires that candidates for Mayor and City Council receive nominating petitions from the City Clerk. Section 13.8 b states that the Clerk must enter the name of the person in whose behalf the petition is to be circulated and the name of the office for which the person is a candidate. Therefore, no blank petition sheets will be provided. Anyone seeking petitions must inform the City Clerk of the name of the candidate. Another person can obtain nominating petitions on behalf of a candidate as long as that information is provided.
Pursuant to City Charter, candidates for Mayor and City Council must be registered electors of the City (mayor) and a resident of their ward (councilmember) for at least one year immediately preceding election.
Candidates to be elected on November 5, 2013 would need to be registered electors of the City of Ann Arbor and a resident of their respective ward by no later than November 6, 2012.
Nominating petitions for Mayor must contain a minimum of 250 signatures. No more than 350 signatures will be accepted. Candidates for mayor must have a minimum of 50 signatures from each of the City's five wards. Only registered and qualified electors of the City of Ann Arbor can sign and circulate petitions for Mayor!
Nominating petitions for City Council must contain a minimum of 100 signatures. No more than 200 signatures will be accepted. All signatures on a petition for City Council must be from the ward in which the Council candidate is running. Only registered and qualified electors of the City of Ann Arbor and the ward in which the candidate is running can sign and circulate petitions for City Council!
A packet of information and nominating petition forms can be picked up in person at the City Clerk's Office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Please call the City Clerk at 734-794-6140 for more information.
Campaign Finance
Candidates and persons acting on their behalf are reminded that they are subject to provisions of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. This law requires filing of various financial reports with the Washtenaw County Clerk. Candidates are advised to check with the Washtenaw County Clerk regarding required reporting and deadlines.
Washtenaw County Clerk Elections