APRIL 2023

Are local filers fined for not filing campaign finance reports?

They can be, after a process.

OCPF has updated and streamlined its guidance concerning municipal non-filers, and the legal steps for referring them to the state for potential fines.

The new memo, M-23-01, includes suggested communications between your office and a delinquent filer. Click here for the PDF. Click here for the text version, which can be copied and pasted into a document.

A local election official should follow the guidance in the memo when a candidate or committee, who files locally, fails to file a campaign finance report by the deadline.

REMINDER

All candidates who file on the local level are required to have a M101 organizational form on file with your office, whether they have a committee or not, and even if they have no financial activity.

This form is filed once. It is only filed again if there are changes.

TRAINING CLASSES FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES

(Please e-mail this link to your candidates)

Next Classes: April 28 at 9 a.m. and May 9 at noon.

The online Zoom classes last about 45 minutes and cover the local reporting requirements.

Local filers include all town candidates, committees and city candidates who don't file with OCPF. All mayors file with OCPF, as well as city council candidates in cities with populations of greater than 65,000.

2023 ELECTION QUICK LINKS

CLICK HERE for the filing dates calculator, to determine due dates and reporting periods.

CLICK HERE for the M102 campaign finance report.

CLICK HERE for the M109 affidavit, for candidates with no committee, balances or activity.

CLICK HERE for the local filer campaign finance checklist.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

Candidate: "I want to have a meet and greet at the senior center. Is this OK?"

Local officials may have policies that ban political activity on public property and in public buildings. Committees should contact local officials prior to planning activities.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE USE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.