QUALIFICATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE
The following are the requirements of candidates for local office:
· Must be at least 18 years of age
· Must be a registered voter
NOMINATION PAPERS
The first step in running for Town office is to gather the required number of signatures of registered voters. Nomination papers for local office are available at the Town Clerk’s Office by the second week in January annually. The nomination papers must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office by the posted deadline.
Candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 50 certifiable signatures. (The legible signature of a registered voter of the Town, including the address at which they are registered.) |
Complete instructions and forms will be given when nomination papers are requested.
Nomination papers for district or state-wide office are obtained through the Elections Division of the Secretary of State, but are also submitted locally for certification.
CAMPAIGN and POLITICAL FINANCE
State law requires an accounting of all money received or spent in the course of a political campaign. Candidates, ballot question committees and political action committees each are required to submit regular campaign finance reports and to comply with the campaign finance laws and procedures.
The Town Clerk serves as the Town's Campaign and Political Finance Director for all local campaigns. As a result, the financial disclosure statements of candidates and committees must be filed with the Town Clerk and maintained for public inspection. Candidates for state and district offices file campaign finance reports with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) .
The financial disclosure statements must be on forms prescribed by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance and include the name of the candidate or committee; the address of the committee; the committee's chairman and treasurer; an accounting of all contributions received; a listing of all individuals who contributed over a prescribed amount; and an accounting of all campaign expenditures. The statements, which are filed periodically throughout the year, are reviewed and audited by the Town Clerk.
The campaign finance filing deadlines for Town candidates or ballot question and all other committees are:
8-days before a Town election (an accounting from inception of campaign through 10 days prior to due date) |
30-days after a Town election (an accounting from ending date of last report through 10 days prior to due date) |
End-of-year report due the following January 20th (an accounting through December 31st annually) |
End-of year report is due annually so long as a candidate maintains a campaign fund, has outstanding debts, or is an incumbent elected official, and so long as a committee is in existence. |
For more information regarding the campaign finance practices or to obtain forms, click on to the link below:
or contact the Office of Campaign and Political Finance by:
Telephone |
617-727-8352 |
Website |
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E-Mail |
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