Campaign Finance
Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 55 governs the financing of political campaigns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The law requires candidates and political committees to disclose all campaign contributions received and expenditures made, and it establishes limits and, in some cases, prohibitions on certain sources of contributions.
Chapter 55 also regulates the permissible use of campaign funds, together with regulations and guidance issued by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). These provisions address, among other matters, the solicitation and expenditure of campaign funds, restrictions on the political activities of public employees, and prohibitions on the use of governmental resources for political purposes. Additional guidance is available in OCPF regulations at 970 CMR, which candidates and committees are encouraged to review.
Filing Requirements
Candidates and political committees are required by law to file periodic campaign finance reports and are responsible for ensuring that all filings are timely, complete, and accurate. Reports must be filed regardless of whether any funds were raised or spent during the reporting period, and regardless of whether a candidate is ultimately nominated or elected.
Reports are due to the Town Clerk’s Office by the close of business on the applicable due date. State law provides for a late filing penalty of $25.00 per day, assessed to the candidate, for reports filed after the deadline. In addition, continued failure to file required reports may be referred to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance for review.
Reporting Requirements
Before-Election Reporting
Your first required filing is due on or before the 8th day preceding the election. Municipal election candidates must use Form CPF M 102.
After-Election Reporting
The next filing is due 30 days after the election. This post-election report may be considered the final report if the candidate has no cash balance, assets, or outstanding liabilities.
Year-End Reporting
A Year-End Report must be filed every year for as long as the committee remains in existence, or the candidate maintains a campaign fund, has outstanding debts, or is an incumbent elected official.
Schedule E (Disclosure of Assets) must be filed with the Year-End Report for the report to be considered complete.
If a candidate has received no contribution, made no expenditure, incurred no obligations during the reporting period, and does not have a campaign fund in existence, the candidate may choose to file Form CPF M 109. Filing deadlines remain the same, but only a signature is required.
A subsequent year-end report is required for incumbents and for candidates or committees that have continuing balances or liabilities, or that did not dissolve following the post-election report. The year-end report is due on January 20 of the following year and must be filed using Form CPF M 102 or CPF M 109, as applicable.
Filing Methods and Forms
Copies of all required forms are available in the Town Clerk’s Office. Forms may also be downloaded from the OCPF website at www.mass.gov/ocpf.
Completed forms may be:
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