Guide-to-Running-for-Office-as-a-Michigan-Green-2-1.pdf -

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Guide to Running for Office as a Michigan Green - Getting on the Ballot - Step 1: Decide to Run Join the Party If you haven’t already, start by joining the Michigan Green Party (​http://migreenparty.org​) ​Get informed and try to make it to local Green party meetings. If there isn’t a green party organization in your area, reach out to the party chair about starting a chapter. Make Sure the Greens Are Right for You Research the Green Party’s ​4 Pillars​ and ​10 Key Values​ and consider how they’ll relate to your policies and your campaign. If you decide to run you’ll also have to fill out the Michigan Green Party’s Candidate Questionnaire so consider how you would answer. How Will Running for Office will Affect Your Life? Are you physically and mentally capable of sustaining a campaign? How will your relationship with family and friends be affected? Do you have the time and resources to run a political campaign or can you build a community to help gain them? Decide Which Office to Run For If you don’t have an office in mind already there’s a lot to consider. Is there a particular politician you’re looking to unseat or policy you’re looking to overturn? How far are you willing to travel to campaign? What are your goals and does the office you seek have the power to achieve them? Page 1 of 3 Guide to Running for Office as a Michigan Green - Getting on the Ballot - Step 2: Form a Campaign Committee Build a Committee If you have help it’s best to get your treasurer and record keeper on board in the beginning. If you’re doing it alone be sure to look into the campaign finance filing laws in michigan before getting started Get an EIN (Tax ID Number) In order to open a campaign account you’ll need an Employee Identification Number. File as a political campaign committee at the IRS Website: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-i dentification-number-ein-online​ ​Use the EIN to get a bank account, the second you spend any money you’re officially a candidate and are required to file for your campaign committee within 10 days. File for Your Campaign Committee File for your campaign committee on the Michigan Secretary of State website. Be sure to include your full name in the title. (​https://midisclose.nictusa.com/​) State Level Candidates: If you plan on spending less than $1000 or you want to wait to start filing finance disclosures until after you’ve collected more than $1000 be sure to select the option that says “​YES, I/We WANT TO APPLY FOR THE REPORTING WAIVER.” More Information at ​:​https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8721_11839---,00.html Federal Candidates: Candidates for US Congress and US Senate have to file with the FEC if they spend more than $5,000. File the statement of candidacy first (​https://webforms.fec.gov/webforms/form2/index.htm​). Then file the statement of organization (​https://webforms.fec.gov/webforms/form1/index.htm​) More information at: ​https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/forms/ Page 2 of 3 Guide to Running for Office as a Michigan Green - Getting on the Ballot - Step 3: Get Nominated Let the Greens Know You’re Running Reach out to one of the state chairs of the MI Green Party and let them know you want to run. Make an account on the Green party website (if you haven’t already this would be a good time to make a dedicated campaign email account to go with it). Go to the candidate page and add yourself, fill in a bio and answer the Candidate Questionnaire. Join local Green party social media groups and let people know about your campaign. Go to the Nominating Convention Michigan law dictates that “minor parties” must select candidates at their own nominating conventions instead of joining in the state’s primary process. Find out when the nominating convention is and be sure to have a ​notarized​ ​Affidavit of Identity (​https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ED104_Aff_ID_Fil_Rec_Vendor_83725_7.pdf​) and a ​Certificate of Acceptance (​https://www.michigan.gov/documents/Cert_of_Accept_154046_7.pdf​) with digital or scanned copies ready to be sent into the bureau of elections. The meeting tends to be long, all the candidates are given a chance to speak so be prepared to make your case. If there is anyone running against you there will be a primary vote. If no one is running against you the candidates are generally nominated together via consensus. Once the convention is finished you’ll have exactly one business day to email or otherwise deliver your paperwork to the Bureau of Elections. You’ll need to mail the originals in as well. You’re Now on the Ballot as a Michigan Green! Get out and start campaigning! Good luck! Page 3 of 3