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.
2. Open a standard checking account to deposit contributions. Most banks require an EIN from the IRS to open an account.
3. In towns, file the M102 campaign finance form eight days before the election and 30 days afterward. The reporting period dates can be calculated here.
4. 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.
5. Year-end reports are filed each Jan. 20 by municipal candidates.
- Guide for Local Election Officials.
- Trifold Guide for Local Candidates.
- Guide for Municipal Ballot Question Committees.
- Guide for Municipal Political Action Committees.
- Guide for Municipal Candidates Who File Locally.
- Guide for Municipal Candidates Without A Committee.
- Guide for Municipal Write-in Candidates.
- Guide: How to Complete and File the M102 Campaign Finance Form, for Local Candidates.
- Guide: How to Amend the M102 Campaign Finance Form, for Local Candidates.
- Guide: How to Report Out-of-Pocket Expenditures, for Local Candidates.
- Guide: How to Account for Credit and Debit Card Fees (Contributions).
- New Clerks and Local Election Officials (Overview of Campaign Finance Law)
- Top 10 Tips for Local Election Officials
- Campaign finance reporting for municipal candidates who file locally
- Posting campaign finance reports to a municipal website
- How to report out-of-pocket expenditures: local filers
- Public Employees and the Campaign Finance Law
- The Use of Public Resources for Political Purposes
- How to Dissolve a Committee on the Municipal Level
