The National Institute on Money in State Politics is the only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization revealing the influence of campaign money on state-level elections and public policy in all 50 states. Our comprehensive and verifiable campaign-finance database and relevant issue analysis are available for free through our Web site FollowTheMoney.org. We encourage transparency and promote independent investigation of state-level campaign contributions by journalists, academic researchers, public-interest groups, government agencies, policymakers, students and the public at large.

Taking a look at the Michigan Elections from 2008, obtained from FollowTheMoney.Org we can see that the total dollars contributed to candidates: $22,582,236 based on 98% of reports for candidates that were collected. (FollowTheMoney.Org; February 11, 2010)

The above report demonstrates the actual contributor, total amount donated to various candidates, percentage of the total amount donated and the sector they are associated with. The below report demonstrates the top 20 industries and their total amounts of campaign money that was shifted towards candidates.

A significant amount of data is collected on a state to state basis with automated ways to reorganize the data to connect individuals, candidates, and organizations to issues and campaign financing related matters through the tools made available by The National Institute on Money In State Politics. I certainly thank them for making it freely available and hope that others find it useful as well.

Important Dates and Filing Deadlines

Refer to Michigan compiled law for cited provisions www.michiganlegislature.org. Dates are subject to change through legislative action. If any errors are found, it is the law, itself, which must be followed.

Michigan Election Dates

Aug. 3, 2010           State Primary
Nov. 2, 2010           State General Election

Michigan Registration Deadlines

July 6, 2010            Last day to register for August primary. (168.498)
Oct. 4, 2010            Last day to register for November general election. (168.498)

Michigan Filing Deadlines: Candidates

By 5:00 p.m., March 22, 2010
Incumbent Appeals Court, Circuit Court, District Court and Probate Court judges file Affidavit of Candidacy and Affidavit of Identity for the August primary. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 5:00 p.m. on March 25. (168.409b, 413a, 414, 433a, 434, 467c and 467d)

By 4:00 p.m., April 27, 2010
Candidates seeking Appeals Court, Circuit Court, District Court or Probate Court judgeships file nominating petitions, Affidavit of Identity and Affidavit of Constitutional Qualification for the August primary. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on April 30. (168.409b, 409c, 413, 414, 433, 434, 467b and 467d)

By 4:00 p.m., May 11, 2010
Candidates for county convention delegate (precinct delegate) file an Affidavit of Identity for the August primary. Filing submitted to the clerk of the county, city or township in which candidate resides. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on May 14. (168.624, 624a)

By 4:00 p.m., May 11, 2010
Partisan and nonpartisan candidates (other than judicial candidates) file nominating petitions (or fees if applicable) and Affidavit of Identity for the August primary. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on May 14.

By 5:00 p.m., July 5, 2010
Incumbent Supreme Court Justices file Affidavit of Candidacy for the November general election. (168.392a)

By 4:00 p.m., July 15, 2010
District Library Board candidates who wish to seek office at the November general election file an Affidavit of Identity and a nominating petition. (A $100.00 nonrefundable fee may be filed in lieu of a petition.) (Special note: If district library includes a school district, District Library Board candidates file by 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 10.) (397.181)

By 4:00 p.m., July 15, 2010
Candidates without political party affiliation file qualifying petitions and Affidavit of Identity for the November general election. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on July 19. (168.590c)

By 4:00 p.m., July 23, 2010
Write-in candidates other than write-in candidates who seek precinct delegate positions file Declaration of Intent forms for the August primary. (168.737a)

By 4:00 p.m., July 30, 2010
Write-in candidates who seek precinct delegate positions file Declaration of Intent forms for the August primary. (As an alternative, candidates for precinct delegate may file form with appropriate precinct board on election day before the close of the polls.) (168.737a)

By 4:00 p.m., Aug. 10, 2010
Local School Board candidates, Community College Trustee candidates and District Library Board candidates who wish to seek office at the November general election file an Affidavit of Identity and a nominating petition. (A $100.00 nonrefundable fee may be filed in lieu of a petition.) Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 13. (Special notes: If district library does not include a school district, District Library Board candidates file by 4:00 p.m. on July 15. Candidates seeking a Wayne County Community College Trustee position file by 4:00 p.m. on May 11.) (168.303; 397.181; 389.83, 152)

By 4:00 p.m., Aug. 10, 2010
Village candidates who wish to seek office at the November general election file an Affidavit of Identity and a nonpartisan nominating petition. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 13. (168.381)

By 4:00 p.m., Oct. 22, 2010
Write-in candidates file Declaration of Intent forms for the November general election. (168.737a)

Michigan Filing Deadlines: New Parties and State Ballot Proposals

By 5:00 p.m., May 26, 2010
Petitions to place a legislative initiative proposal on the November general election ballot filed with the Secretary of State (304,101 valid signatures required). (168.471)

By 5:00 p.m., July 5, 2010
Petitions to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the November general election ballot filed with the Secretary of State (380,126 valid signatures required). (168.471)

By 4:00 p.m., July 15, 2010
New political parties file petitions to qualify for November general election ballot (38,013 valid signatures required). (168.685)

Michigan Filing Deadlines: County and Local Proposals

By May 11, 2010
Petitions to place county and local questions on the August primary ballot filed with county and local clerks. (If governing law sets an earlier petition filing deadline, earlier deadline must be observed.) (168.646a)

By May 25, 2010
Ballot wording of county and local proposals to be presented at the August primary certified to county and local clerks; local clerks receiving ballot wording forward to county clerk within two days. (168.646a)

By Aug. 10, 2010
Petitions to place county and local questions on the November general election ballot filed with county and local clerks. (If governing law sets an earlier petition filing deadline, earlier deadline must be observed.) (168.646a)

By Aug. 24, 2010
Ballot wording of county and local proposals to be presented at the November general election certified to county and local clerks; local clerks receiving ballot wording forward to county clerk within two days. (168.646a)

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