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
| File | Description | # of Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 22 |
| Sample Notification | Local election officials notify candidates and committees prior to a campaign finance report due date. This is a sample notification. | 1 |
| 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. | 1 |
| Fact Sheet: Campaign Finance Disclosure in Municipal Elections | An overview of the campaign finance disclosure requirements for municipal elections. | 2 |
| 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. | 6 |
| CPF ID | Name/Address | Disqualified since | Document |
