Code of Massachusetts Regulations
970 CMR - OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE
Title 970 CMR 2.00 - Political Expenditures
Section 2.19 - Reporting of Ballot Question Expenditures by Individuals, or by Corporations, Associations, Organizations or Other Groups of Persons

Universal Citation: 970 MA Code of Regs 970.2

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) A corporation, association, organization or other group of persons, other than a political committee, or an individual which makes an expenditure to influence or affect the vote on a ballot question must file a report disclosing the expenditure, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 55, § 22, unless such expenditures:

(a) are made for campaign materials such as signs or literature, and the materials are not distributed prior to the relevant election;

(b) are made for campaign materials and the purchase takes place more than six months prior to distribution, in which event the disclosure may take place at the time of distribution, rather than at the time the expenditure was made; or

(c) are contributions to a ballot question committee.

(2) For purposes of completing a report of expenditures pursuant to M.G.L. c. 55, § 22, an expenditure must be disclosed when a promise to pay is made or a liability is incurred. Subsequent expenditures made to retire the liability do not also have to be disclosed, unless paid by a person other than the person or entity that filed the report that initially disclosed the promise to pay or liability.

(3) For purposes of filing the reports required by M.G.L. c. 55, § 22, the ending date for a report required to be filed 60 days before an election to disclose expenditures made in connection with a question that appears on ballots at a state election shall be the preceding fifth day from the date the report is due.

(4) A political committee, other than a ballot question committee, which files reports with the Director, may make expenditures to influence or affect a ballot question that appears on the ballot at a city or town election or that appears on the ballot for use in a city or town at a state election.

(a) If the amount of any such expenditure equals or exceeds $250, the committee must, in addition to disclosing the expenditure in the committee's campaign finance report filed with the Director, also file a report of the expenditure with the city or town clerk in the city or town in which the question is on the ballot.

(b) The report of ballot question expenditures filed with the city or town clerk must be filed according to the schedule applicable for reporting of expenditures relating to questions appearing on the ballot for use in a city or town at a state election, as specified in M.G.L. c. 55, § 22.

(5) A political committee, other than a ballot question committee, which files reports with a city or town clerk, may make expenditures to influence or affect a ballot question that appears on the ballot at a state election.

(a) If the amount of any such expenditure equals or exceeds $250, the committee must, in addition to disclosing the expenditure in the committee's campaign finance report filed with the city or town clerk, also file a report of the expenditure with the Director.

(b) The report of ballot question expenditures filed with the Director must be filed according to the schedule applicable for questions that appear on ballots at a state election, as specified in M.G.L. c. 55, § 22 and must be filed electronically, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 55, § 18C.

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