2022 Election Dates and Deadlines

A school district may place millage and bond propositions on the ballot for the three regular election dates each year (four in a presidential election year), as well as certain petition initiative election dates.

The following 2022 regular election dates are available for voting millage or bond proposals:

May 3

August 2

November 8

A certified copy of the school board resolution approving ballot language for millage or bond proposi­tions must be filed with the school’s election coordina­tor (typically the county clerk) at least 12 weeks before the chosen election date. For the May 2022 election date, that filing deadline is February 8, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. If your school district is considering a millage or bond proposition for next May, please contact the attor­ney who assists your district with election matters as soon as possible.

Registered electors in a school district also may circulate petitions to place a millage or bond proposi­tion on the ballot on a date other than the regular elec­tion dates listed above. Petitions bearing a suffi­cient number of signatures must be filed at least 12 weeks before the applicable election date. For 2022, the available petition initiative “floater” election dates are:

January 4, 11, 18, 25

February 1, 8, 15, 22

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

June 14, 21, 28

September 13, 20, 27

October 4

December 20, 27

The 2022 regular and “floater” election dates may be used to seek voter approval for any of the following:

• Millage renewal;
• Restoration/override of Headlee reduction to existing millage;
• New millage, such as sinking fund, recrea­tional, special education, vocational education, or regional enhancement; or
• Bonds.

For a new bond issue that a district would like qualified under the School Bond Qualification and Loan Program, school officials should contact their bond at­torney at least five months before the prospective election date to schedule a preliminary qualification meeting with the Department of Treasury. For the May 2022 election date, Treasury has many dates available in November for preliminary qualification meetings, but only a limited number of available dates in December and January.

The Michigan Legislature is considering legislation that would eliminate the May and August election dates and add a June regular election date, effective January 1, 2023. We will continue to monitor this legislation and inform clients of its potential impact.

If you have questions about voted bonds or millages, please contact the Thrun attorney who assists your school district with election matters.

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