Candidate guide - campaign finance reporting and information

Candidates may choose to raise or spend funds for their campaign and should become familiar with the various campaign disclosure forms and applicable rules.

The Marin County Elections Department requires all candidates to complete the Form 501 and Form 470. This does not obligate the candidate to raise or spend funds for their campaign, but it satisfies the requirement that all candidates file at least one finance statement by the first pre-election due date.

Candidates may file the Form 470 if they do not have a controlled committee, do not anticipate receiving contributions totaling $2000 or more during the calendar year, and do not anticipate spending $2000 or more during the calendar year.

The Form 470 is filed once, by the first pre-election due date. If the $2000 threshold is achieved, candidates must file the Form 470 Supplement, and establish a campaign committee. Please refer to Manual 2 for more information.

Marin County Ordinance 3805 requires all campaign finance committees for local offices and measures file finance disclosure reports through the e-filing program maintained by the Marin County Elections Department:

• Candidates without a committee;
• Municipal candidates and measures;
• The Form 410 – this must be filed with the Secretary of State.

Campaign finance reports are considered public and will be posted on our web portal.

Candidates for county office must adhere to the State campaign contribution limit, currently set at $5,500 from each individual, committee, and political party per election.

If running for a state office you are required to file campaign finance reports with the California Secretary of State. Candidate committees raising or spending more than $25,000 must file their reports through the State’s e-file program; those who spend or raise less than $25,000 will file paper reports with the State and the County.

• Deposit all campaign funds in a separate bank account that is only for the campaign. You cannot add contributed funds to personal accounts.
• Do not use the same bank account, committee, or committee name that you used in a previous election if you are running for a different office.
• Expenditures from personal funds may be used without having to open a committee if used to pay the filing fee and candidate statement printed in the voter information guide.
• Record all contributions and expenses of $25 or more, but you should never accept cash. (FPPC manuals will provide details and additional information.)
• Document any donation worth $100 or more, including loans, and in-kind contributions, and provide the contributor’s name, address, occupation, and employer.
• Do not use your campaign funds for most non-campaign expenses or to make independent expenditures to support or oppose other candidates.
• If you receive $1000 or more from a single source in the last 90 days before the election, you must disclose it within 24 hours, even if the contributions are from your personal funds. This includes separate contributions from the same source that add up to $1000 or more.
• Not all Marin County cities and districts have the same campaign contribution limits. To know the limits for your office, contact the local official.

Form 501: You must file this form before solicitation or receipt of any contribution, or expenditure of personal funds other than the filing fee and your candidate statement.

• Candidates for state office must file this form to accept the Voluntary Expenditure Limits for State Candidates (for the 2024 General Election: $1,273,000) for each election if wishing to have a candidate statement in the voter information guide.

Form 410: File the Form 410 to open a campaign finance committee, no later than 10 days after spending or receiving at least $2000. Afterwards your committee will be required to file periodic campaign statements until the committee is closed. This form is also used to amend and close your committee.

Form 460: This form is used to report campaign finance activity during scheduled semi-annual and pre-election periods, and must file on time per the filing schedule.

Form 497: A Late Contribution Report must be filed within 24 hours if a committee receives a contribution (including aggregated amounts) from a single source during the 90 days prior to the election.

Denying the public’s right to view a campaign finance report is a violation of State law. Election officials and the Fair Political Practices Commission have the authority to assess fines due to late and/or non-filing violations. (Government Code §91013).

The Marin County Elections Department does not have the authority to investigate or prosecute other campaign finance violations.

Campaign finance laws change, so make sure you understand your requirements. Regulations, information, forms, and manuals can be found at:

• Fair Political Practices Commission:
  428 J Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814
  Tel. 866-275-3772, or Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)

Additional contacts

• Secretary of State, Political Reform Division:
  1500 11TH Street, Room 495, Sacramento, CA 95814
  Tel. 916-653-6224, or Secretary of State, Political Reform Division
• Federal Election Commission :
  (candidates for federal offices only)
  Tel. 800-424-9530, or Federal Election Commission
• Local candidates, please contact:
  Email: Dan Miller
  Tel. 415-473-6437