Campaign Finance
Berkeley candidates and campaign committees need to file reports of their contributions and expenses following both state and local laws. These reports are accessible to the public online.
Raising and spending money in a Berkeley election
If you raise or spend more than $1,000 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. Review the campaign statement filing schedule for important filing deadlines.
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. The local filing manual is a useful tool for local campaign committees. 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). Candidates running for City offices can learn more about the program in the Public Financing Program Guide. Matching funds disbursed in the upcoming election will be posted periodically in the Public Financing Matching Funds Report. The report is updated weekly. For the total amount of contributions received, view the Form 460 statements in NetFile.
File reports In NetFile
Committees that raise or spend $1,000 or more 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@berkeleyca.gov.
Where to view reports
Anyone can view campaign reports online on NetFile. Click the public access portal to get started. The total amount raised by a candidate can be found on the Form 460 filings in NetFile. Matching funds received from the City are listed on the Form 460 under Schedule I - Miscellaneous Increases to Cash.
