Campaign Finance

The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance was established in 1973, although Massachusetts law apparently addressed the issue as early as 1884. The Campaign Finance law, MGL Chapter 55, is a comprehensive statute governing the financing of political campaigns in the Commonwealth at the state, county, district and municipal levels. The Federal Election Commission administers campaign finance issues as they relate to candidates for federal office.

Significant changes to the state campaign finance law were made in 1994, 2009 and 2014. For an introduction to campaign finance law as it relates to municipal electoral activity, go here. The required report form for municipal candidates, and for elected municipal officers, who expend no funds in pursuit of local elected office, is available here. For a more general overview go to www.ocpf.us.