Campaign Finance

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Organization and Disclosure

Candidates who file locally, municipal ballot question committees, local party committees and locally-based political action committees file organizational forms on the local level. The law does not, under most circumstances, require a candidate to have a political committee organized on his or her behalf, but most candidates have one. Form CPF M101 Should be filed with the City Clerk's Office as soon as the committee is organized. (Please Note - Candidates for Mayor and City Council file their M101 statement with OCPF directly)

For Candidate Committees download the CPF M101
For Ballot Question Committees download CPF M101 BQ
For Political Action Committees download CPF M101 PC
For a Candidate's Segregated Fund download CPF M101 SFA

The Organizational form contains the names and addresses of the committee officers. Any change in the information submitted should be reported to the City Clerk's Office within 10 days of that change. Any change in treasurer should be submitted by completing Form CPF M T 101 and filing it with the City Clerk's Office.

Campaign Finance Reporting

Newton candidates and political committees are required to file form CPF M102 with the City Clerk's Office on or before each reporting date. (Please Note - candidates for Mayor and City Council file electronically with OCPF). Candidates and treasurers are responsible for the legality, validity, completeness and accuracy of each of their reports.

Records of all receipts and expenditures must be maintained by a candidate and committee for all activities, regardless of amount.

Filing Dates and Disclosure

Candidates and committees are required by statute to file periodic campaign finance reports and are also responsible for the legality, validity, completeness and accuracy of their reports. The following is a schedule for filing reports with the City Clerk's Office or OCPF. These reports MUST be filed whether or not money has been raised or expended during the reporting period and whether or not the candidate is nominated or elected. Reports are due to the City Clerk's Office by the close of business on the day the report is due. The candidate is personally liable for a $25.00 per day late fine for each day a report is late.

Pre-Preliminary Report: Due on or before the 8th day preceding the cities preliminary election. The form is to be complete from the day following the end date of the last report filed through ten (10) days before the due date. (Please Note - Only those candidates on the preliminary ballot are required to file pre-preliminary reports)

Pre-Election Report: Due on or before the 8th day preceding the city general election, complete from the day following the ending date of the last report filed through ten (10) days before the due date.

Year-End Report: Due on or before January 20 in the year following, complete from the day after the end date of the last report filed through December 31. The year-end report must be filed each year, so long as a committee is in existence or a candidate maintains a campaign fund, has outstanding debts, or is an incumbent elected official. If January 20th falls on a weekend the report would be due the next business day.

Dissolution of a Committee

Committees that have no cash balance, assets or outstanding liabilities and wish to dissolve may do so. Candidates and committees that do not dissolve must continue to report on a regular basis, as do incumbents with or without a committee.

In order to dissolve, all residual funds from committee or candidate accounts must be donated to one or more of the following: (1) the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Fund; (2) the City of Newton General Fund; (3) a scholarship fund; or (4) a charitable or religious organization. Donations to scholarship funds and charities are subject to certain restrictions. Contact OCPF for more information.

To dissolve, candidates or committees file the CPF M102 Form and check off the "Dissolution" box near the top of the summary page.