2026 City Elections

In accordance with the City Charter (3.01), elections in the City of Ypsilanti are open and partisan. The City Clerk is chief elections officer and is responsible for the administration of all elections within the City of Ypsilanti. Elected officials within the City of Ypsilanti government are the mayor, and six members of City Council, with each of the city’s three wards electing two city council members.

General, City, and Primary Elections

General and City Elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every two years, on even numbered years. The next General & City Election is Tuesday, November 3^rd, 2026.

Per state law, Primary Elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of August prior to a General Election. The next Primary Election is Tuesday, August 4^th, 2026.

Running for Office & Filing Petitions

Offices for Mayor, and one City Council seat for each of the city’s three wards will be on the ballot in the November 2026 General Election.

All candidates must complete an Affidavit of Identity (MCL 168.558). Those seeking to run for mayor or for city council must submit their affidavit & nominating petition signatures to the City of Ypsilanti Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. The deadline to withdraw is April 24^th, 2026.

Candidates who wish to run without party affiliation (independent) have until July 16, 2026, at 4 p.m. to file petitions for the November 3, 2026, General Election.

Petitions for Mayor shall be signed by no less than 125 and no more than 200 registered electors of the City.

Petitions for Council Members shall be signed by no less than 25 and no more than 50 registered electors residing in their corresponding ward.

A packet of information along with nominating and/or qualifying (no party affiliation) petition forms can be picked up in person at the City Clerk's Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Please call the City Clerk at 734-483-1100 for more information.

Read about circulating your nominating petition.

Additional Requirements  

Once you become a candidate you must file campaign finance materials with the appropriate filing official. You also have 10 calendar days after becoming a candidate to form a Candidate Committee. An additional 10 calendar days are given to file this information with your campaign finance filing official. Those running for City Offices must submit this information to the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office.

Candidates who do not need to file campaign finance materials or create a Candidate Committee are:

• Precinct Delegate Candidates
• School Board candidates in a school district with a pupil enrollment of less than 2,400 do not need to file campaign finance materials unless they spend or receive more than $1,000

Write-In Candidates

Those who chose to run as a write-in candidate must file a Declaration of Intent with the appropriate filing official by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before an election. The same campaign finance filing requirements applies to write-in candidates as all other candidates.

Ypsilanti District Library, Community College, and School Board Offices

City of Ypsilanti residents who wish to run for Ypsilanti District Library, Washtenaw Community College, or local School Board Offices must file with the Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office.