East Lansing City Council Elections are held in November in odd-numbered years. City Council candidates must be registered electors of the City. Council members are elected for four-year terms. Election Dates: The next City Council election will be Tuesday, November 8, 2011. There is no primary for East Lansing City Council. Filing Deadline: Petitions for the office must be filed no later than 4 p.m., the 12th Tuesday prior to the regular city election held in November. The filing deadline in 2011 is 4 p.m., Tuesday, August 16. Nominating Petitions: Candidates who wish to seek office at the November election must file an Affidavit of Identity and Nominating Petitions. The required signatures must be collected on non-partisan nominating petition forms. These petitions for City Council must bear the appropriate designation to indicate the office sought by the candidate.
Forms Available: Affidavit of Identity forms and Nominating Petitions are available from the City Clerk at East Lansing City Hall. Signature Requirement: The minimum number of valid signatures required on nominating petitions for City Council is 50 registered electors of the city. The maximum number of signatures which can be submitted to meet the signature requirement is 100. Filing Location: Candidates who wish to seek the position are required to file with the City Clerk, City Hall, 410 Abbot Road. Withdrawal: A candidate must submit a written withdrawal notice to the City Clerk not later than 4 p.m. of the third day after the last day for filing petitions. The withdrawal deadline for 2011 is Friday, August 19. Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements: Candidates seeking public office in Michigan are required to meet the disclosure requirements provided under Michigan's Campaign Finance Act. Information on disclosure requirements can be obtained from the State Bureau of Elections (373-2540) or the County Clerk's Office (676-7255).