Running for Office in Ottawa County
All candidates must be registered and qualified electors of the districts in which they are seeking office.
Step 1: What office are you running for?
A complete list of offices which will appear on the ballot in 2021 are listed below. More information regarding offices that will appear on the ballot in 2022 will be available after reapportionment from the 2020 Census.
The Ottawa County official candidate listing will be posted on our website as soon as that information is available.
If you are unsure of which precinct you live in, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. This website allows you to view your voter registration status, sample ballot, polling location, and voting precinct.
Step 2: Where do I file for office?
Most federal, state, and judicial candidates file for office with the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections. The Bureau of Elections can be contacted by phone at (517) 373-2540, or email at elections@michigan.gov.
Candidates running for the following offices in 2021 must file with their Local City Clerk:
- Mayor
- City Council Member or Commissioner
Candidates running for the following offices in 2022 must file with the Ottawa County Clerk:
- State Representative
- Local School Board Member
(Note: Allendale Public Schools Board Member candidates file with the Allendale Township Clerk.) - Precinct Delegate
Candidates for city, township, or village offices file with their local city or township clerk. To find contact information for your local clerk in Ottawa County, click here.
Please note: All candidates who file with the Ottawa County Clerk must submit their filing at the West Olive location of the Ottawa County Clerk’s Office, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Step 3: I’m running for office and I file with a filing official in Ottawa County. What forms and information do I need?
Each office has different filing requirements. Please select the appropriate office for more detailed information.
Offices Appearing on the Ballot in 2021
- City of Coopersville
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
All candidates in the City of Coopersville must collect a minimum of 25 signatures to be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be completed on the proper form, and petition forms can be picked up from our office – Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver. Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Coopersville will elect four City Council Members during the November 2, 2021 City General Election.
Term of Office
Coopersville City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
- City of Ferrysburg
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
All candidates in the City of Ferrysburg must collect a minimum of 15 signatures to be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be completed on the proper form, and petition forms can be picked up from our office – Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver.Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Ferrysburg will elect the city’s Mayor and three City Council Members during the November 2, 2021 City General Election.
Term of Office
The Mayor is elected to a 2-year term, and City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
- City of Grand Haven
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
All candidates in the City of Grand Haven must collect a minimum of 25 signatures to be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be completed on the proper form, and petition forms can be picked up from our office – Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver.Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Grand Haven will elect the city’s Mayor and two City Council Members during the November 2, 2021 City General Election. The Grand Haven Board of Light and Power will elect two Trustees.
Term of Office
The Mayor is elected to a 2-year term, City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms, and Board of Light and Power Trustees are elected to 6-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
- City of Holland
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2020 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
Candidates for the offices of Mayor and Council Member At-Large in the City of Holland must collect a minimum of 60 signatures to be placed on the ballot, with at least 10 signatures from each Ward. Candidates for the offices of Council Members for the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wards must collect a minimum of 20 signatures to be placed on the ballot.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver.Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Holland will elect the city’s Mayor, one At-Large Council Member, and one Council Member per Ward from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wards during the November 2, 2021 City General Election.
Term of Office
The Mayor is elected to a 2-year term, and all City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
- City of Hudsonville
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
All candidates in the City of Hudsonville must collect a minimum of 15 signatures to be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be completed on the proper form, and petition forms can be picked up from our office – Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver.Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Hudsonville will elect the city’s Mayor and three City Council Members (one Council Member per Ward) during the November 2, 2021 City General Election.
Term of Office
The Mayor and City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
- City of Zeeland
Filing Form and Deadlines
All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the City Clerk’s Office until Friday, July 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected.
The Affidavit of Identity must be filled out completely and notarized before your name can appear on the ballot. Our office can notarize this form at no charge.
Petition Requirement
All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the City Charter, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.
All candidates in the City of Zeeland must collect a minimum of 25 signatures to be placed on the ballot. All petitions must be completed on the proper form, and petition forms can be picked up from our office – Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds, 12220 Fillmore St., Room 130, West Olive, MI 49460.
Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements
All candidates must open a campaign finance committee. The Statement of Organization form creates a campaign finance committee. This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk / Register of Deeds office within 20 days of becoming a candidate.
All new candidate committees must complete the starred * items on the Statement of Organization form.
Candidates who expect to spend or receive less than $1,000 may apply for a reporting waiver.Committees with a reporting waiver are not required to submit additional campaign finance documents to our office. However, this waiver is automatically lost if the committee goes over the $1,000 limit. To apply for the waiver, check “Yes” in box 10 on the Statement of Organization.
Candidates without the reporting waiver must submit regular reports to our office. In years where candidates appear on the ballot, they must submit campaign finance statements to our office before and after each election. When a candidate does not appear on the ballot, candidates must submit both Annual and Quarterly statements.
Positions Available
The City of Zeeland will elect the city’s Mayor and three City Council Members during the November 2, 2021 City General Election.
Term of Office
The Mayor is elected to a 2-year term, and City Council Members are elected to 4-year terms.
Current Candidates
All candidates who have filed for office for 2021 and 2022 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at www.miOttawa.org/elections.
