OCPF welcomes inquiries regarding campaign finance activities.  You may obtain informal, oral advice by calling the office at (617) 979-8300 or (800) 462-OCPF (toll-free in Massachusetts).

The office also issues written advice, including advisory opinions and guidance letters, based on written requests describing specific facts and circumstances or prospective activities.  Click here for more information about requesting an advisory opinion.

All past advisory opinions are online in the OCPF website's Legal Resources section.  This section also contains all current interpretive bulletins, memoranda and other legal advisories.

In addition to issuing specific written advice, OCPF occasionally issues interpretive bulletins and memoranda setting guidelines on a variety of subjects.  These documents are available from OCPF and may be helpful in assisting candidates, committees and other organizations.

Individuals with information concerning possible violations of the campaign finance laws may file a request for review in writing with OCPF.  The identity of the individual requesting the review is kept confidential and is not revealed to the subject of the review, the public or any other party at any time.  OCPF does not comment on any matter that is under review or investigation.  In fact, the office also does not confirm or deny the receipt of any requests for review or the existence of an investigation until such investigation is completed.

Requests for review are accepted:

• via US Mail:
  Office of Campaign and Political Finance
  One Ashburton Place, Room 411
  Boston, MA 02108
  
  
• via fax: (617) 727-6549 or
  
  
• via e-mail:  ocpf@cpf.state.ma.us

Requests for review should include the following:

• The requesting party's contact information, if a direct response is desired;
• A description of a specific activity or transaction that has raised an issue of concern; and
• Any accompanying documentation or other data that the requesting party deems pertinent.

Reviews may be resolved in one of several ways.  The most common resolution is in the form of a public resolution letter (PRL), which states OCPF's conclusions regarding a matter, such as whether a subject did not comply with the campaign finance law, whether there is no reason to believe there was a violation, or whether the office is taking no further action after its review.  Such letters do not require agreement by the subject of the review and are public record.

Some requests for review are resolved by closing the matter administratively.  In these instances, the review revealed no evidence to suggest any violation of the campaign finance law occurred.  These reviews are often resolved informally; by a telephone call or letter to the requesting party advising the individual that there is no reason to believe, based on the information submitted, that a violation has occurred.

In matters of more significant violations, OCPF may enter into a disposition agreement with the subject of an investigation.  In these agreements, the parties agree to specific facts and the subject agrees to take various corrective actions, such as additional or amended disclosure reports and payments to the Commonwealth.  Finally, OCPF has the option of referring matters to the Office of the Attorney General for further action.