Candidates running for the Ann Arbor City Council in odd-year elections must file 12 weeks in advance of the the August primary under new election law.

That means the filing deadline for City Council candidates beginning in 2011 will change from late June to early May. The new filing deadline for the next election will be 4 p.m. May 10.

In response to federal legislation known as the MOVE Act — standing for military and overseas voter empowerment — the Michigan Legislature has made changes to state law that affect the current filing deadlines for City Council candidates in odd-year primaries only, City Clerk Jacqueline Beaudry told council members in a memo.

Beaudry said the city already was following state deadlines for even-year elections due to the state and federal offices on that ballot and the previous requirements in place for absentee ballot delivery in federal elections.

So far, only Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, has filed to seek reelection in 2011. His petition signatures haven't yet been verified by the clerk's office.

Other council members up for re-election in 2011 include Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward; Stephen Rapundalo, D-2nd Ward; Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward; and Mike Anglin, D-5th Ward.

The City Council approved a resolution Monday night to acknowledge the changes to election law governing candidate filing deadlines.

The council's resolution acknowledges the previous filing deadline of the seventh Monday prior to the August primary, as identified in the city charter, is superseded by state law.

The MOVE Act requires that absentee ballots be made available to military and overseas voters, both in paper and electronic format, at least 45 days prior to all elections.

The 45-day requirement previously only applied to federal elections. As a result of the changes, Michigan has amended its own laws to comply, making all previous local charter provisions for later filing deadlines obsolete, Beaudry said.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.