OCPF - Publications

For candidates and committees that register with OCPF

Depository Candidates and Committees

Candidates for the statewide offices, House, Senate, county and district offices, Governor's Council, mayor, city council and alderman seats in cities with 65,000 or more in population, political action committees, and the state political party committees. Read more

The Statewide Offices: The constitutional offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Secretary, State Treasurer or State Auditor.
County and Disctrict Offices: County Clerks of Court, Commissioners and Treasurers; Registers of Deeds and Probate; District Attorneys; Sheriffs and Suffolk County Clerks of the Superior and Supreme Judicial Courts.
Governor's Council: One of the eight district seats of the Executive Council.
Legislative: House and Senate candidates.
All Mayoral Candidates
City Councilors:This includes the communities of Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham & Worcester.
Political action committees. (People's committees must organize and operate as political action committees for six months before they can seek a change of status.)
The state committees of political parties organized under M.G.L. chapter 52, section 1.

Statement of Organization for:
- Candidate's Committee CPF 101
- Political Action Committee CPF 101 PC
- State Political Party Committee CPF 101 SP
Appointment of Depository: CPF D 103
Statement of Candidate Not Raising or Expending Campaign Funds: CPF D 104
Initial Report: CPF D 102 Instructions / Worksheet

Non-Depository Candidates and Candidate Committees

Candidates for Barnstable Assembly of Delegates

Statement of Organization: CPF 101.

Segregated fund accounts Legal defense, recount and inaugural funds

On behalf of candidates or committees who register with OCPF

Statement of Organization: CPF 101 SFA
Notice of Dissolution: Segregated Fund Account CPF 18E

Independent expenditure political action committees

Statement of Organization: CPF 101 IEPAC

Ward, town and city political party committees

Statement of Organization: CPF 101 WTC

State ballot question committees

Statement of Organization: CPF 101 BQ
Initial Report: CPF 102 BQ

People's Committees

Statement of Organization: A people's committee must organize as a PAC (see above) and must be in existence for at least six months before seeking a change of status.
Declaration of Status: PAC becoming a People's Committee: Form CPF 101 DS-1
Declaration of Status: People's Committee becoming a PAC: Form CPF 101 DS-2

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
Local Independent Expenditure Political Action Committees: Organized to make independent expenditures.
Statement of Organization: CPF M 101 IEPAC

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 M 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 SV1 (M)
Municipal Report of Donations to Inauguration, Recount or Legal Defense Funds Form - CPF M18E
Notice of Dissolution Segregated Fund Account CPF M18E-D
Municipal Report of Electioneering Communication Expenditure - CPF M18F
Municipal Report of Contributions from Gaming License Applicants - CPF M119

Miscellaneous Reporting Forms

Campaign Finance Report for Local Party Committees

Ward, town and city political party committees
CPF 102 WTC Instructions
(Sch. A addendum) (Sch. B addendum)

Statement of Settlement

CPF S-1

Affidavit of Candidate/Treasurer with Outstanding Liabilities

Affidavit

Report of Joint Fundraising Agent Sponsoring Joint Fundraising Event

CPF 102JT

General Treasury Organizations

General Treasury Incidental Threshold Registration CPF 101 GTO

Incidental Threshold Year-End Report CPF 102 GTO

Public Financing Forms (Statewide Candidates Only): 2022 forms

Public Financing Handbook: 2022 - Handbook
Statement on Campaign Expenditure Limits: Primary and General Campaign - CPFA 20 Instructions
Statement of Maximum Expenditures: Primary Election Campaign - CPFA 21
Statement of Maximum Expenditures: General Election Campaign - CPFA 22
Statement of Maximum Expenditures: Candidate Team - CPFA 22T
Candidate's Post-Primary Balance Statement - CPFA 10
Post Primary Expenditure Report - CPFA 30 Schedules
Candidate's Post-Election Balance Statement - CPFA 11
Candidate's Post-Election Expenditure Report - CPFA 31 Schedules

Changing Treasurer?

If you have a change in your committee's treasurer, you will need to download and complete one of these forms:

For candidates and committees registered with OCPF:: Change of Treasurer/Acceptance of Office by New Treasurer - CPF T 101
For candidates and committees registered with their local election officials:: Municipal Change of Treasurer/Acceptance of Office by New Treasurer - CPF M T 101

There is important information you need to know about a change in treasurer for your committee. Read more...

The office of Treasurer is vital to an organized political committee. Under the campaign finance law, no money or anything of value can be received and no expenditures or disbursements can be made by a political committee (or any person acting under the authority of or on behalf of a political committee) while it has no treasurer.

An appointed treasurer must be in place prior to the time a political committee files its Statement of Organization with OCPF since the treasurer's name and address must appear on the completed form.

A treasurer is appointed, or qualified, for his or her office by filing a written acceptance of the office with OCPF (or if organized for the purpose of a city or town election only, with the city or town clerk).

The treasurer remains subject to all the duties and liabilities imposed by the campaign finance law until his or her written resignation of the office is received or his successor's written acceptance is filed with OCPF (or the city or town clerk). The treasurer is primarily responsible for:

authorizing expenditures made on behalf of the political committee;
keeping detailed accounts of the campaign finance activities of the political committee;
keeping and preserving detailed records of the campaign finance activities of the political committee; and
preparing and filing required campaign finance activity reports.

If a political committee needs to appoint a new treasurer, the former treasurer should submit a written letter of resignation to the political committee. The political committee should appoint a new treasurer who will complete and sign a CPF T 101: Change of Treasurer form. The political committee must submit the change of treasurer form and a copy of the former treasurer's resignation letter to OCPF (or the town or city clerk) within ten days following the change.

Care must be taken when selecting a new treasurer for the political committee. There are restrictions on who may serve as the treasurer for a political committee organized in Massachusetts. Those who cannot serve as the treasurer of a political committee include:

a public employee (one who is employed by the Commonwealth, a county or a city or town.);
the Secretary of the Commonwealth;
a city or town clerk (except those that do not administer elections);
a member of a board of registrars of voters in any city or town; or
a member of an election commission in any city or town.
a candidate may not be the treasurer of the political committee which has been organized on his behalf.

If you have further questions, or require additional information, please contact OCPF.

Changing Office?

If you decide to run for a different office, you need to download and complete this form:
Change of Purpose (Office Sought) CPF 101P

Once completed, return this form to OCPF or your local election official.

OCPF Campaign Finance Activity Guides and Fact Sheets

OCPF issues various publications to help candidates, committees, public employees and others understand the campaign finance law. Every publication is available at no cost and we will provide them via email, fax or mail upon request.

Title	Description
CAMPAIGN FINANCE GUIDES	Campaign finance guides explain the disclosure requirements and filing process for candidates and committees.
Depository Candidates and State Party Committees	This guide is for candidates for the statewide offices, House, Senate, county and district offices, Governor's Council, mayor, city council and alderman candidates in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham and Worcester, as well as state political party committees.
Political Action Committee Guide	This guide is for traditional depository political action committees that file with OCPF.
One-Page Summary of the Depository Reporting System	A one-page summary of the Depository Reporting System
A Summary of the Depository Reporting System, for Legislative Candidates	A summary of the depository system, for House and Senate candidates
Candidates for Municipal Office	This guide is for candidates running for local offices that have their reporting requirements with their local election officials.
Local Election Officials	This guide is designed to introduce city and town clerks and local election officials to the provisions of the campaign finance law.
Municipal Write-in Candidates	This one-paged guide assists candidates who run write-in campaigns on the local level.
Municipal Candidates Without A Committee	This one-paged guide assists candidates who run without a committee on the local level.
Independent Expenditure Political Action Committees (IE PACs)	This guide is for political action committees that receive contributions for the purpose of making independent expenditures to support or oppose a candidate or candidates.
State Ballot Question Committees	This summary guide describes how to organize a State Ballot Question Committee with OCPF, and how to disclose its financial activity.
Municipal Ballot Question Committees	This summary guide describes how to organize and operate a Municpal Ballot Question Committee, and how to disclose its finance activity with local election officials.
Municipal Political Action Committees	A guide for municipal PACs that file with local election officials.
Local Political Party Committees	This summary guide describes how to operate a Local Political Party Committee that is organized on the ward, town or city levels.
Public Employees, Public Resources and Political Activity	This guide is intended to answer questions concerning political and fundraising activity by government workers.
Committee Treasurers	This guide provides basic information about the role and duties of the treasurer of a political committee in Massachusetts.
Public Finance Handbook	This guide provides information about the public financing program in Massachusetts.
OCPF Political Party Convention Guidance	A summary of legal guidance concerning state party conventions, for parties, delegates and candidates.
Public Employee Unions and PACs	A guide for the process of collecting contributions from public employees for an affiliated union PAC.
Savings Accounts: Depository System	This guide explains how to create and maintain a savings account in the depository system of reporting.
Municipal Candidate Booklet	A guide booklet for municipal candidates who file with their clerks and local election officials (PDF)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE FACT SHEETS	Campaign finance fact sheets are brief overviews, explainers or charts that contain basic information about aspects of the campaign finance law.
OCPF's Top 10 Campaign Finance Rules	You're Running for Office: OCPF's Top 10 campaign finance rules, in printable form..
Annual Campaign Contribution Limits	Click here to view a chart of the contribution limits to candidates and political committees in Massachusetts.
How to File a Deposit Report	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Amend a Deposit Report	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to File a Year-End Report in the Depository system	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to amend a depository year-end report	An illustrated guide on how to amend a year-end report that has already been filed with OCPF.
Traditional PACs that make Independent Expenditures	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to dissolve a depository account with OCPF	This illustrated guide explains the process for dissolving (closing) a depository account with OCPF
How to File a Reimbursement in the Depository System	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Clarify an Expenditure	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Add/Update Occupation and Employer Information	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Report Credit and Debit Card Fees	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Account for Merchant Provider Refunds	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Upload Contributor Data to a Deposit Report	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Disclose Subvendor Expenditures	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Forgive a Candidate Loan	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
Candidate Loan Repayment in the Depository System of Reporting	An illustrated guide for depository candidates and committees
How to Report Out-of-Pocket Expenditures	An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials.
How to Account for Credit and Debit Card Fees (Contributions)	An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials.
How to Use Reporter 7 to Create, Print, and File Reports	An illustrated guide for local filers who use Reporter 7 to create, print and file reports.
How to Complete and File the M102 Campaign Finance Form	An illustrated guide for candidates who file with their local election officials.
Traditional municipal PACs that make independent expenditure	An illustrated guide for Traditional municipal PACs that make independent expenditure.
Paid for By Guide	An illustrated guide that provides examples of disclaimers on campaign materials.
Independent Spending	This illustrated guide demonstrates how to register to file reports for independent expenditures (18A), electioneering communications and independent ballot question spending.
How to file a segregated fund report	How to e-file a report for a legal, inaugural and recount fund, for candidates who file with OCPF.
Local Party Committee: How to e-file report using Reporter 7	An illustrated guide for local party committees on how to use Reporter 7 to e-file reports
How to report credit/debit card merchant provider fees, for local party committees	An illustrated guide for disclosing merchant provide fees for local party committees.
Municipal Ballot Question Committees	Illustrated and detailed guide for completing and filing the M102 campaign finance form.
Campaign Finance Law Changes: A Timeline	Guide: Timeline of campaign finance law revisions.
How to dissolve a committee	Committees that have no cash balance, assets or outstanding liabilities and wish to dissolve may do so, as long as the candidate represented by the committee does not still hold elected office.
Changing the purpose of a candidate’s committee	Guide: Changing the purpose of a candidate's committee (when a candidate decides to run for another office)
Public Employee, Public Buildings & Public Property Booklet	This is a four-page summary describing the implications of the campaign finance law for public employees and public buildings, and the use of public resources for political purposes.
How to Report Late Contributions	This guide describes how and when to file Late Contribution Reports.
Traditional political action committees that make independent expenditures	This guide explains the steps a state-level PAC must take if it makes independent expenditures to support or oppose candidates who file with OCPF.
Electronic Filing Instructions (Depository Filers)	This one-page explainer provides step-by-step instructions for Depository Committees to use OCPF reporting software.
The Campaign Finance Law and Businesses	This one-page explainer provides guidance on the impact of the campaign finance law on businesses.
Common Errors Made When Completing Campaign Finance Reports	This guide helps committees to avoid common errors made when completing campaign finance reports.
Campaign Finance Disclosure in Municipal Elections	Local candidates will want to review this guide prior to filing reports with their local election officials.
An Overview of the Massachusetts Public Finance System	Statewide candidates should review this guide, whether they plan on participating in the public financing system or not. The public financing system provides matching contributions to qualified candidates.
Application of Spending Limit Declarations	This guide describes the process that statewide candidates follow concerning spending limit statements.
Statewide Candidates Expenditure Statements	This guide describes the process that statewide candidates follow concerning expenditure statements.

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OCPF Campaign Finance Activity Studies

OCPF compiles and publishes studies of campaign finance activity by various types of candidates and committees. The office also complies and publishes reports on the limited public financing system for candidates seeking statewide office.

OCPF Forms & Publications