Elections Division

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: Which office are you running for?

Step 2: Where do I file for office?

Only candidates running in 2023 for the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District Board file with the Ottawa County Clerk's Office.

Candidates for city offices must file with the City 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: What forms and information do I need?

Each office has different filing requirements. Please select the appropriate office for more detailed information.

• City of Ferrysburg Offices

  Filing Forms and Deadlines

  All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity. This form must be submitted to the Ferrysburg City Clerk's office by April 25, 2023 by 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with Ferrysburg City Clerk's office Friday, October 27, 2023 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect not less than 15 nor more than 30 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at 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 Grand Haven City Clerk's office by April 25, 2023 at 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with Grand Haven City Clerk's office Friday, October 27, 2023 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect a minimum of 40 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

• City of Coopersville Offices

  Filing Form and Deadlines

  All candidates must submit an Affidavit of Identity in duplicate. This form must be submitted to Coopersville City Hall Tuesday, April 25, 2023 by 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the Coopersville City Hall until October 27, 2023 at 4:00PM. 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect a minimum of 6 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 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 Holland City Clerk's office by April 25, 2023 at 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with Holland City Clerk's office Friday October 27, 2023 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect a minimum number of signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  • Holland Mayor: 60 minimum
  • Holland Council Member At-Large: 60 minimum (10 from each Ward)
  • Holland Council Member Wards 2, 4, 6: 20 minimum

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at 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 Hudsonville City Clerk's office by April 25, 2023 by 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with Hudsonville City Clerk's office Friday,October 27, 2023 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect a minimum of 6 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at 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 Zeeland City Clerk's office by April 25, 2023 by 4:00PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with Zeeland City Clerk's office Friday, October 27, 2023 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 Signature Requirement

  All candidates must submit petition signatures in order to appear on the ballot. The petition signature requirement is based on the population of the district, and all signatures must be from registered voters of the district.

  All candidates for local office must collect a minimum of 6 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

  All petitions must be completed on the proper form. Additional 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's office within 20 days of becoming a candidate. We recommend that all candidates complete the Statement of Organization form and submit it with their Affidavit of Identity when they file for office. 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

  Each local jurisdiction has a different number of positions available. All available positions are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.

  Current Candidates

  All candidates who have filed for office for 2023 are listed on the Ottawa County Candidate Listing, which can be found online at miOttawa.org/elections.