Those interested in running for a position on the Battle Creek City Commission in the Nov. 3 election now can begin collecting petition signatures – as of Monday.
All nine seats on the commission are available this year.
At-large and mayoral candidates must be registered voters in the City of Battle Creek, and collect at least 100 – but not more than 150 – valid signatures from other Battle Creek registered voters. In the March primary election, Battle Creek voters approved the mayor as a separate office. Mayor candidates may not run for a city commission seat at the same time.
Candidates for the five city wards must be registered voters, and live in the wards in which they are running. They must collect 50 – but not more than 75 – valid signatures from Battle Creek voters registered in their ward.
Candidates must return completed petitions and Affidavits of Identity by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21 to the City Clerk’s Office, Room 111, 10 N. Division St.
This, and other important information, as well as links to other documents candidates must complete, is available at the city’s website, battlecreekmi.gov/elections. A direct link to the forms for city commission candidates, via the state, is here: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8721_11839---,00.html. Look in the top section, “Filing for Office.” You can also find information at the Calhoun County website, https://www.calhouncountymi.gov/departments/clerk_and_register_of_deeds/upcoming_elections.php.
With the exception of the petitions and Affidavit of Identity, which are available at the clerk’s office, all documents are available electronically. For hard copies of any other documents, please request them from the clerk’s office, 269-966-3348. While City Hall is closed to the public, staff will meet you at the door with the petition packet. When you are ready to return the petition, call again, and staff will meet you.