Paperwork

In my small northern Michigan township, paperwork is the first hurdle to becoming a candidate for local office. I present myself to the township clerk for an election packet, which consists of the following:

Cover page
Fact page, outlining filing requirements and deadlines ("Fact Page")
Summary of Michigan's Campaign Finance Act
Pamphlet, describing valid and invalid signatures on petitions
Affidavit Of Identity And Receipt Of Filing ("Affidavit")
Township Nominating And Qualifying Petition ("Petition")
Statement Of Organization Form For Candidate Committees ("Statement")

I begin with the Affidavit, the purpose of which is candidate identification. Sections I and II are simple (basic residency information), but do require a quick reference to the Fact Page (thanks, clerk!). Section III stops my progress, because it asks for the number of signatures on my Petition, and I haven't got any yet. Since Section IV requires the services of a notary public to certify the Affidavit, I set this document aside, and take up the Petition.

The purpose of the Petition appears to be community involvement. The Petition must be signed by between 3 and 10 registered voters from my township (again, this from the Fact Page), so I dutifully troop around the neighborhood, receiving 7 signatures. I fill in the number 7 in Section III of the Affidavit, and move on to the Statement.

The Statement is an exercise in hilarity, as its purpose is to establish a finance committee to support my election campaign. Hilarious because I am the committee's sole member, and I currently have no funding! Nevertheless, I fill in my name and address repeatedly in the sections for committee candidate, committee treasurer and committee record-keeper.

I return to the township clerk with my Affidavit, Petition and Statement in hand. The clerk reviews all three forms, then notarizes the Affidavit and certifies the Petition. I am now an official candidate. My final paperwork journey takes me to the county clerk's office, where I file the Statement, and take a deep breath.