Clerk outlines new district map, petition rules and precinct changes ahead of Pontiac municipal election

City Clerk Garland Doyle presented an overview of new council district boundaries, precinct consolidations and nominating petition rules for the 2025 municipal election during the April 1 meeting.

Doyle summarized the charter-mandated change that reduced council districts from seven to six and explained that council adopted the new district ordinance on Jan. 7, 2025. The clerk said the mayoral and at-large council seats are citywide: candidates for mayor and the at-large council seat must submit between 250 and 400 valid signatures from registered Pontiac voters. Candidates for council by‑district must file between 100 and 150 signatures from residents of the new district. Library-board candidates must submit 40–100 signatures or pay a $100 nonrefundable fee as an alternative to circulating petitions.

Doyle warned that signature validation will use the state voter file and stressed that petition circulators should confirm signers’ registration precisely—signatures from voters who remain registered in a prior district will not count for the new district. The clerk said the state will update its voter file to reflect new district assignments and that residents should expect an updated voter card in May showing their new precinct and polling place. The clerk reminded residents that signers should sign as they sign on official state ID, because the clerk’s office verifies signatures against the statewide records.

Doyle also explained precinct consolidation: Pontiac will reduce from 18 to 14 precincts under the new configuration and identified new polling locations for affected precincts (examples included WHRC, Alcott, Kennedy Junior High and Pontiac High). The clerk advised candidates and circulators to check the state voter lookup (mi.gov/vote) to confirm a signer’s registration and residence before collecting signatures.

Doyle concluded by confirming that filing deadline for petitions and affidavits is April 22 at 4 p.m. and reminded potential candidates to clear any outstanding campaign‑finance or filing obligations that could render them ineligible for the ballot.