Information on Running for Village Trustee

Village Candidate Requirements 

Qualification: General Law Village Act, Act 3 of 1895, Section 62.7

Filing: Michigan Election Law, Act 116 of 1954, MCL 168.381-383

Deadline: 4 pm Tuesday July 21, 2026, file with Township Clerk

Affidavit of Identity  MI SOS

Petition Manual for Candidates without Political Party Affiliation MI SOS

Deadline to challenge to petition or affidavit of identity: July 23, 2026

Write-in Candidates, MCL 168.737a

Filing: Write-in Candidate Declaration of Intent, MI SOS

Deadline for write-in candidate: 4 pm Friday October 23, 2026, file with Township Clerk

Additional Resources on candidates and elections:

Michigan Department of State > Elections

Michigan Municipal League

After election results are certified and before first council meeting

Oath of Office, Michigan Constitution, Article XI § 1

Swear and sign the oath in front of a Notary, make sure Village Clerk gets an original GLVA 62.7

Posting a bond. GLVA 62.8 requires a bond be posted only if local ordinance or resolution requires it. Village of Elberta does not.

Term of office, MCL 62.4-5 , local Ordinances

Village President for 2 years starting December 1, unless changed by local ordinance (e.g. VOE Ordinance No. 12)

         Village Trustee for 4 years beginning November 20, unless otherwise modified

Definitions

Council, Member of Council, Trustee, Officer, and Quorum are per GLVA 61.1a

Council Meeting Conduct  

Council meetings are governed by the Open Meetings Act, Act 267 of 1976, MCL 15.261-275.

Village bylaws, ordinance, or resolutions may address how a Council Meeting is to be conducted. e.g. Village of Elberta Rules of Procedure for Meetings

MML provides handy Fact Sheets for understanding meeting conduct

Time Commitment

Regular council meetings are once a month and special council meetings can be called as necessary per GLVA 65.4.

Agenda and meeting materials are distributed by the Village Clerk (may have to go pick up at Village office) prior to the meeting. Council members are expected to be prepared prior to the meeting.

Individual time commitments for Trustees start at an estimated six hours per month and will go up if trustee is serving on commissions, committees, drafting motions to be introduced, researching issues, etc.

Training Resources

Once seated on council, request additional training to be provided by Village. e.g. MML Newly Elected Officials Training

Recommendations

Review GLVA sections 62.1 thru 65.8, read the Chapter titles of the rest of the Act

Review the Open Meetings Act

Attend a village council meeting and review minutes from a recent meeting

Familiarize yourself with Roberts Rules of Order