The mayor is elected on a partisan ballot every even year.* The mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council and appoints all Council committee members and members of many boards and commissions, with the approval of City Council.
The City Council consists of the mayor and 10 Council members, two from each of Ann Arbor's five wards. One half of City Council is elected in annual partisan elections. Members serve two-year terms.*
*November 2017 was the last odd-year Council election. Beginning in 2018, Council will have four-year terms, with staggered even year elections. The 2017 election only will be for a three-year term, expiring in 2020.
