§ 168.424aPrimary and general election for 2 or more judgeships; listing categories of

candidates on ballot; validity of filed petitions; death or disqualification of incumbent
 judge; filing for election to more than 1 circuit judgeship; withdrawal; office designation.
 Sec. 424a.
    (1) In the primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships of the circuit court, each of
 the following categories of candidates shall be listed separately on the ballot, consistent with
 subsection (3):
    (a) The names of candidates for the judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is
 seeking election.
    (b) The names of candidates for an existing judgeship or judgeships for which the
 incumbent is not seeking election.
    (c) The names of candidates for a newly created judgeship or judgeships.
    (2) Nominating petitions filed under section 413 are valid only if they clearly indicate for
 which of the following offices the candidate is filing, consistent with subsection (3):
    (a) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election.
    (b) A new judgeship.
    (c) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is seeking election.
    (3) If the death or disqualification of an incumbent judge triggers the application of section
 415(2), then for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), that judgeship shall be regarded as a
 judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election. The application of this
 subsection includes, but is not limited to, circumstances in which the governor appoints an
 individual to fill the vacancy and that individual seeks to qualify as a nominee under section
 415(2).
    (4) A person who files nominating petitions for election to more than 1 circuit judgeship
 shall have not more than 3 days following the close of filing to withdraw from all but 1 filing.



                                                                     Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Thursday, April 30, 2026              Page 132 of 478                               Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

    (5) In a primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships where more than 1 of the
 categories in subsection (2) could be selected, a candidate shall apply to the bureau of
 elections for a written statement of office designation to correspond to the judgeship sought by
 the candidate. The office designation provided by the secretary of state shall be included in the
 heading of all nominating petitions. Nominating petitions containing an improper office
 designation are invalid.
    (6) The secretary of state shall issue an office designation of incumbent position for any
 judgeship for which the incumbent judge is eligible to seek reelection. If an incumbent judge
 does not file an affidavit of candidacy by the deadline, the secretary of state shall notify all
 candidates for that office that a nonincumbent position exists. All nominating petitions
 circulated for the nonincumbent position subsequent to the deadline shall bear an office
 designation of nonincumbent position. All signatures collected prior to the affidavit of
 candidacy filing deadline may be filed with the nonincumbent nominating petitions.