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House unanimously approves change to candidate affidavit for nonpartisan races

Michigan House of Representatives · November 5, 2025

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Summary

House Bill 4861 would remove a party-affiliation box from the affidavit of identity for candidates in nonpartisan contests; supporters said the current requirement has led to disqualifications. The House passed the bill 100–0 and ordered immediate effect.

LANSING — The Michigan House unanimously passed House Bill 4861 on Nov. 4, a measure amending the Michigan Election Law to remove a party-affiliation question from the affidavit of identity where it is irrelevant for nonpartisan offices.

Representative Aultman, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber the existing form has caused some nonpartisan candidates to be disqualified when they left a party box blank, a technicality that reached the Michigan Supreme Court. He said the bill "strikes that unnecessary requirement, cleans up the statute, and ensures that good candidates aren't sidelined over a meaningless technicality."

The recorded vote on final passage was 100 ayes and 0 nays. The House also voted to give the bill immediate effect.

No amendments or fiscal impacts were discussed on the floor during the passage.