Campaign Finance

Raising and spending money in a Berkeley election

If you raise or spend more than $250 on your campaign, you are required to open a campaign committee and file disclosure reports detailing the campaign’s contributions and expenditures. These reports are available to the public online so that voters can access information about money involved in local elections.

In addition to the disclosure and filing requirements of State of California law, Berkeley has local election laws that you must follow. Known as “BERA”, the Berkeley Election Reform Act applies to candidates running for office, and to anyone raising or spending money in Berkeley elections. A commission of Berkeley residents, the Fair Campaign Practices Commission (FCPC), is tasked with enforcing the requirements in BERA.

Berkeley campaign committees have filing requirements related to mass mailers. Please visit the Mass Mailings page for details. Regulations and resources for campaign committees are provided in the related documents section below.

Public financing for Berkeley candidates

Candidates running for Berkeley offices can receive matching funds from the City to finance their campaign. You can receive a 6-to-1 match on donations to your campaign, up to $60 (e.g., if someone donates $60, you can receive $360 in public matching funds). Learn more about how to participate in the Public Financing Program Guide.

File reports In NetFile

Committees that raise or spend over $1,000 must file their reports electronically using NetFile. Click on the filer access portal to get started. For support with using NetFile, read the Instructions for Filing Campaign Statements Electronically. You can also contact the City Clerk Department to request a training by calling (510) 981-6908 or sending an e-mail to elections@cityofberkeley.info.

Where to view reports

Anyone can view campaign reports online on NetFile. Click the public access portal to get started.