(02/06/2002) The Michigan Department of State’s Bureau of Elections is advising that candidates who intend to file for one of Michigan’s newly drawn congressional, legislative or court of appeals districts cannot file for office until March 22, 2002.

March 22, 2002, is the date the laws that reapportioned districts for the U.S. House, State Senate, State House and Court of Appeals go into effect.

Signatures may be collected on petitions circulated for the office of U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator, State Representative or Judge of the Court of Appeals prior to March 22, 2002.

The authority to circulate petitions for a newly reapportioned district office before the law that sets the new district boundaries takes effect is based on a 1964 Attorney General opinion.

The filing deadline for non-incumbent candidates who seek the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals is 4 p.m. on April 30, 2002. The filing deadline for incumbent judges on the Court of Appeals who seek re-election is 5 p.m. on March 25, 2002.

The filing deadline for partisan candidates who seek the office of U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator or State Representative is 4 p.m. on May 14, 2002.

The filing deadline for candidates without political party affiliation who seek the office of U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator or State Representative is 4 p.m. on July 18, 2002.

The Bureau of Elections is notifying local filing officials and candidate committees of the deadlines.