OCPF - Municipal Clerk Support

The Steps: In Brief

1. Local filers organize with the local election official, usually the city or town clerk, by filing the M101 form. Even candidates without a committee file the M101, but check the "candidate only" box.

2. Provide OCPF's guide to all candidates by e-mail or by printing it. The guide is designed to answer nearly all their questions. GUIDE.

3. Local filers open a standard checking account to deposit contributions. Most banks require an EIN from the IRS to open an account.

4. In towns, file the M102 campaign finance form eight days before the election and 30 days afterward. A pre-preliminary report is due if a candidate's name appears on a preliminary ballot. The reporting period dates can be calculated here.

5. In cities, local filers file the M102 campaign finance form eight days before the preliminary election, if the filers appear on the preliminary ballot, and eight days before the general election.

6. Year-end reports are filed each Jan. 20 by municipal candidates.

Downloads

File	Description
Campaign Finance Guide: Local Election Officials	This guide provides an overview of the campaign finance responsibilities of city and town clerks and local election officials.
Sample Notification	Local election officials notify candidates and committees prior to a campaign finance report due date. This is a sample notification.
Campaign Finance Tracking Form for Local Election Officials	This form assists local election officials with their campaign finance duties before and after reports are filed by candidates and committees.
OCPF Memorandum: Referral of Municipal Non-filers	This memorandum outlines the requirement that the director of OCPF, after referral by a local election official, assess a civil penalty against candidates and treasurers of political committees for any late filed report. This memorandum also sets forth the procedure that local election officials should follow in order to comply with state law.
Candidate Guide Booklet	Comprehensive municipal candidate guide in booklet form.

Committee Organization Forms for candidates & committees that register with local election officials

Candidates and Candidate Committees: Candidates for local offices with reporting requirements to their local election officials
Statement of Organization: CPF M 101.
Statement of Candidate Not Raising or Expending Campaign Funds: CPF M 109
Segregated Fund Accounts Legal defense, recount and inaugural funds: On behalf of candidates who register with their local election officials
Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 SFA.
Local Political Action Committees: Organized to support or oppose a roster of candidates in a single municipality.
Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 PC
Local Ballot Question Committees: Organized to support or oppose a question appearing on a city or town ballot.
Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 BQ
Change of Treasurer/Acceptance of Office by New Treasurer: CPF M T 101

Reporting Forms & Instructions for candidates and committees that file with their local election officials

Municipal Campaign Finance Report - CPF M 102 Instructions (Sch. A addendum) (Sch. B addendum)
Itemization of Reimbursements Form - CPF R 1
Municipal Campaign Finance Report - No Financial Activity - CPF M 102-0
Amendment to Campaign Finance Report - CPF 102A
Municipal Report of Ballot Question Expenditures by Corporation, Organization or Individual - CPF M 22
Municipal Report of Governmental Treasurer - CPF 22A
Municipal Report of Independent Expenditures Promoting Election or Defeat of Candidate(s) - CPF M18A
Municipal Report of Independent Expenditures Promoting Election or Defeat of Candidate(s) for Independent Expenditure PACs CPF M102IEPAC
Municipal Report of Subvendor Payments - CPF M18D
Municipal Report of Donations to Inauguration, Recount or Legal Defense Funds Form - CPF M18E
Municipal Report of Electioneering Communication Expenditure - CPF M18F
Municipal Report of Contributions from Gaming License Applicants - CPF M119

Is there a preliminary election?

Yes No

Is this a November election?

Yes No

Preliminary Election Date:

Election (General) Date:

Candidates disqualified from appearing on any municipal preliminary, state primary or general or special election ballot

The name of a candidate who is required to file campaign finance reports with the director, and who fails to file any statement or report after the initiation of civil proceedings to compel the filing, shall not be printed on any municipal preliminary, state primary or general or special election ballot unless the statement or report is timely filed pursuant to chapter 53 or any charter or special law establishing the filing deadline. The director shall notify the state secretary or, for municipal candidates, the registrars of the city or town, of the names of those candidates against whom civil proceedings for failure to timely file have been initiated and shall do so within 72 hours of the filing deadline for nomination papers for the candidate. Any candidate who is disqualified from appearing on any municipal preliminary, state primary or general or special election ballot as set forth above shall be ineligible to be nominated or elected as a write-in or sticker candidate unless the candidate shall have filed the statements or reports which are the subject of the civil litigation by the date of the municipal preliminary, state primary or general or special election in which the candidate is seeking nomination or election. If civil proceedings are initiated against a state or county candidate for failure to timely file the campaign finance report or statement and the candidate files the report or statement before the primary, the director shall notify the state secretary not later than 24 hours after the date of the primary. If civil proceedings are initiated against a municipal candidate who is required to file with the director and the candidate files the campaign finance report or statement prior to the preliminary or, if no preliminary is held, prior to the date the preliminary for the office sought would have been held, the director shall notify the registrars not later than 24 hours after the date of the preliminary or the date the preliminary would have been held.

Please contact ocpf at ocpf@mass.gov should you have any questions on the information here.

CPF ID	Name/Address	Disqualified since	Document

Municipal Clerk Support

Election Schedule Calculator

M101 Organizational Form

M102 Campaign Finance Report Municipal Form

Referral of Municipal Non-Filers Memo

OCPF Training video for Candidates who File Locally

Sample Filing Notice

E-Guide for Candidates who File Locally

E-Guide for Municipal Ballot Question Committees

The Steps: In Brief

OCPF Guides

Video Tutorials

Checking In - Monthly Informational Mailing

Downloads

Committee Organization Forms for candidates & committees that register with local election officials

Reporting Forms & Instructions for candidates and committees that file with their local election officials

Pre-Preliminary Election Period

Pre-Election (General) Period

Post Election Period

Year-End Period

Candidates disqualified from appearing on any municipal preliminary, state primary or general or special election ballot