Reference MCA 13-37 for all campaign finance information, including report filing timelines (13-37-226), time periods covered by reports (13-37-228), and disclosure requirements (13-37-229).

As of October 2019, and in accordance with 13-37-225 and 226 MCA, all candidates and all committees must file all forms electronically in the Campaign Electronic Reporting System (CERS).

Campaign finance report due dates are available below both through a drop-down tab display and in the below calendar display (which is 'sortable' based on the types of lobbyists, candidates, and committees). Campaign finance training information is available both in the drop-down tab and the sortable calendar.

2019 & 2020 Candidates Report Dates

2019-2020 Candidates

The below dates apply for all candidates (Statewide, State District, Municipal, County, and School candidates). Report form C-5 must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions, if any, that occurred during the specific reporting period. (2019 and 2020 Candidate Report Dates PDF) For information on filing dates, please reference the Secretary of State's webpage.

2019 & 2020 Committee & Special Committee Report Dates

Below, you can find committee information about:

1. 2020 Committees
2. Special Election (March 3rd and May 5th) Committees
3. 2019 and 2020 City Election Committees

1. 2020 Committees (Independent, Incidental, Political Party, and Ballot Issue Committees)

Report C-6 and C-4 must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions--if any--that occurred during the specific reporting period (PDF of 2020 committee report dates here).

Filing Deadline

Reporting Period

January 5, 2020 (Quarterly Report)

October 1^st through December 31, 2019

March 30, 2020

January 1^st through March 25^th

April 30, 2020

March 26^th through April 25^th

May 30, 2020

April 26^th through May 25^th

May 26^th through June 2^nd

(Form C-7 and C-7E reporting periods)

File a Form C-7 (within 2 business days) each time a contribution of $500 or more is received from a single source between May 26^th and June 2^nd

File a Form C-7E (within 2 business days) each time an expenditure of $500 or more is made between May 26th and June 2nd

June 30, 2020

May 26^th through June 25^th

August 30, 2020

June 26^th through August 25^th

September 30, 2020

August 26^th through September 25^th

October 30, 2020

September 26^th through October 25^th

October 26^th through November 3^rd

(Form C-7 and C-7E reporting periods)

File a Form C-7 (within 2 business days) each time a contribution of $500 or more is received from a single source between October 26^th and November 3^rd

File a Form C-7E (within 2 business days) each time an expenditure of $500 or more is made between

October 26^th and November 3^rd

November 30, 2020

October 26^th through November 25^th

January 5, 2021

November 26^th through December 31^st, 2020 (if closing report is not filed)

Reference 13-37-226(2), MCA and 13-37-226(2) (a-e), MCA for 2021+ reporting dates.

2. Special Election Committees (for 3/3/2020 and 5/5/2020 elections)

Report form C-6 or C-4 form must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions, if any, that occurred during the specific reporting period.

1. Report dates for Special Election Committee for March 3, 2020 Special Election PDF (See "live calendar" below for another viewing option)
2. Report Dates for Special Election Committee for May 5, 2020 Special Election PDF (See "live calendar" below for another viewing option)

3. 2019 & 2020 City Election Committees

Report form C-6 or C-4 form must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions, if any, that occurred during the specific reporting period (PDF City Election Committee report dates):

Filing Deadline	Reporting Period
August 6, 2019	Pre-Primary/Date of first contribution through August 1^st
August 29, 2019	August 2^nd through August 24^th
August 25^th through September 10^th (C-7)	File a C-7 (within 48 hours) each time a $500 contribution from a single source is received between August 25^th and September 10^th
August 31^st-November 10^th	Fair Notice (Clean Campaign) Period
Municipal Primary Election: September 10, 2019
September 30, 2019	Post Primary/August 25^th through September 25^th
October 30, 2019	September 26^th through October 25^th
October 26^th through November 5^th (C-7 and C-7E)	File a C-7 (within 48 hours) each time a $500 contribution from a single source is received between October 26^th through November 5^th
October 26^th through November 5^th (C-7 and C-7E)	File a C-7E (within 48 hours) each time an expenditure of $500 or more is made between October 26^th through November 5^th
General Election: November 5, 2019
November 30, 2019	Post General/October 26^ndthrough November 25^th (May also be the closing report if all debts are paid and no more campaign activity is anticipated; otherwise a closing report must be filed later.)
March 10, 2020	Required for any city election committees who still have a 2019 committee account open. Report covers Nov. 16 through March 5, 2020
September 10, 2020	Required for any city election committees who still have a 2019 committee account open. Report covers March 6 through September 5, 2020

Candidate, Committee, and Treasurer Training Events

All Training Events Can Be Found At the "Live" Calendar Below

January 31: COPP Candidate and Committee Training at the GOP Winter Kickoff (Helena)

The COPP will be presenting on campaign finance requirements at the GOP's Winter Kickoff. For more details and to register, go to the Montana GOP's Winter Kickoff event page here or call the MTGOP office at (406) 442-6469. The Winter Kickoff takes place at the Delta Colonial Inn (Helena) at 2301 Colonial Drive.

- Candidate Campaign Finance Training: January 31, 1-2:00 pm
- Political Party Campaign Finance Training: January 31, 2:15-3:30 pm

Montana Co-Op Campaign Academy (COPP Presenting) The COPP will be speaking about campaign finance requirements for 2020 candidates at two Montana Credit Union's (MCUN) Co-Op Academy trainings.

- February 4, 8:15am-4:15pm, Missoula, reference this MCUN link for training details ($55/registrant)
- February 6, 8:15am-4:15pm, Billings: reference this MCUN link for training details ($55/registrant)

Campaign Finance Trainings

Do you know what reporting responsibilities are for a 2020 candidate or political committee? If you want a great primer or would benefit from a refresher, join the COPP at these free events (hosted by the Montana Association of Realtors). The below trainings describe whether they are most relevant for 2020 candidates or political committees. All treasurers, volunteers, and members of the public are also invited to attend the trainings!

The below events will also be available as a Zoom webinar for those unable to make the training in-person. A recording of the training will be available on the COPP’s website.

March 10 – Billings Candidate and Committee Trainings

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: March 10, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Billings, Montana at the Billings Association of Realtors office, 2021 Overland Avenue

What: Political Committee Campaign Finance Training
When: March 10, 1-3:00 pm.
Where: Billings, Montana at the Billings Association of Realtors office, 2021 Overland Avenue

March 11 – Bozeman: Candidate Training

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: March 11, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 West Main Street, Bozeman

March 16 – Missoula: Candidate and Committee Trainings

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: March 16, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where: Missoula Association of Realtors Office, 724 Burlington Ave. Missoula, MT 59801

What: Political Committee Campaign Finance Training
When: March 16: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Where: Missoula Association of Realtors Office, 724 Burlington Ave. Missoula, MT 59801

March 17 – Kalispell – Candidate Training

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: March 17, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Northwest Montana Association of Realtors office, 110 Cooperative Way, Kalispell, MT 59901

April 1 – Great Falls – Candidate Training

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: April 1, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Great Falls Association of Realtors office, 401 13th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405

April 14 – Helena - Candidate and Committee Training

What: Candidate Campaign Finance Training
When: April 14, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Where: DPHHS Auditorium, 111 N Sanders St, Helena, MT 59601

What: Committee Campaign Finance Training
When: When: April 14, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Where: DPHHS Auditorium, 111 N Sanders St, Helena, MT 59601

Candidate Constituent Services C-8 Report Dates

C-8 Constituent Services Reporting Form (C-8 form): Form C-8 is the Constituent Services Reporting form, which discloses any expenses made from an established constituent services account (learn more about constituent services accounts here).

- C-8 reports are to be filed quarterly with the COPP and are filed after a candidate has established a constituent services account filing form C-118C.
- C-8 forms must be filed by sending a digital or hard copy C-8 form either via email (cppcompliance@mt.gov), fax (406-444-1643), mail (PO Box 202401, Helena, MT, 59620-2401), or hand delivered (1209 8th Avenue, Helena, Montana).

2020 C-8 Constituent Services Account C-8 Report Due Dates and Guide
1- January 10, 2020
2- April 10, 2020
3- July 10, 2020
4- October 10, 2020

2019 & 2020 Lobbying Report Dates

2018 Non-Session Year

- Feb. 15, 2019 - Non-Session Year End Report - (Report must cover Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018)

2019 Legislative Session Reports

- Feb. 15, 2019: Mandatory L-5 report covering January
- March 15, 2019: L-5 report covering February that is required if you spent $5,000 or more in February
- April 15, 2019: L-5 report covering March that is required if you spent $5,000 or more in March
- May 28, 2019: Mandatory L-5 report due 30 days after the session adjourns
- February 15, 2020: Year-end Session L-5 report required if any lobbying activity or expenses occurred during the 2019 session or after the 2019 session's adjournment. If a principal terminated their lobbyist by the end of the legislative session, and no other lobbyists are active, this report is not required.

2019 Post-Session Lobbying L-5 Report Due Dates

1- After the session, any time $5,000 or more is spent on lobbying activities in a single month, an L-5 must be filed on the 15th of the following month. The report must also retroactively include any previous expenses from months were $5,000 or more was NOT spent. For example, if a principal spends $2,000 in June and $5,000 in July, they must file a monthly L-5 on August 15th. This report would cover all June and July expenses and activity. Please see MCA 5-7-208.

2- If $5,000 is not spent in a single month after the legislative session concludes, an L-5 Year End Session Report is required to be filed by February 15, 2020. All post-session lobbying activity and expenses must be disclosed in this L-5 report. Please see MCA 5-7-208.

3- If a principal does not have any lobbying activity after the legislative session and they did not terminate all lobbyists by the end of the session, they must file the L-5 Year End Session Report stating that no activity or expenses occurred. Please see MCA 5-7-208.

Resources

- L-5 Lobbying Financial Report guide, PDF guide
- 2019 Legislative and Lobbying page

2019 City Candidate Report Dates

2019 City Candidates Candidate Finance Report Calendar (Primary and General Elections)

Report form C-5 must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions that occurred during the specific reporting period (PDF of 2019 City Candidate Report Dates).

2019 City Candidates

Candidate Finance Report Calendar
Primary and General Elections

Report form C-5 must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions, if any that occurred during the specific reporting period.

Filing Deadline	Reporting Period
August 6, 2019	C-5: Pre-Primary/Date of first contribution through August 1^st
August 24^th -September 10^th (C-7 primary election reporting period)	Primary candidates must file a C-7 (within 48 hours) any time a contribution of $100 or more is received between between August 24^th and September 10^th
August 29, 2019	C-5: August 2^nd through August 24^th
August 31^st-September 10^th	Clean Campaign Period (for primary)
--September 10: Primary Election—
September 30, 2019	If not nominated in Primary: C-5: Post Primary/August 25^th through September 25^th
October 1, 2019	If going through to General: C-5: Pre-General/August 25^th through September 26^th
October 16^th-November 5^th (C-7 and C-7E general election reporting period)	Candidates must file a C-7 (within 48 hours) any time a contribution of $100 or more is received between October 16 and November 5th
	Candidates must file a C-7E (within 48 hours) any time an expenditure or debt of $100 or more is made between October 15th and November 5th
October 20, 2019	C-5: September 27^th through October 15^th
October 26^th-November 5^th	Clean Campaign Period (for general)
--November 5: General Election—
Starting November 2019, all candidates—regardless of candidate type (e.g. statewide, district, city, etc.) will follow the exact same C-5 reporting calendars. All candidate campaign finance reports will be due on the same dates.
November 20, 2019	C-5: Post General/October 16^ththrough November 15^th ^{(May also be the closing report if all debts are paid and no more campaign activity is anticipated; otherwise a closing report must be filed later.)}
March 10, 2020	C-5: Required only if 2019 campaign account still open, covers November 16 through March 5, 2020.
September 10, 2020	C-5: Required only if 2019 campaign account still open, covers March 6 through September 6^th

* The November 20th Post General report can be the closing report if all campaign debts are paid and no more activity is anticipated for the campaign. If campaign activity will continue, a closing report must still be filed.

2019 School Candidate Report Dates

Report form C-5 must be filed for each reporting period to disclose all transactions that occurred during the specific reporting period. School Candidate Report Dates PDF

Filing Deadline	Period Covered by the Report
April 2^nd	Pre-Primary/Date of first contribution through March 28^th
April 25^th	March 29^th through April 20^th
Within 48 hours	File only if a $100 contribution from a single source is received between April 20^th and May 7^th
May 27^th	Post Primary/April 20^th through May 22^nd

2017 & 2018 Candidate Report Dates

Required 2019 Reports for Candidates with Open 2017 or 2018 Campaign Accounts
(PDF for 2017 and 2018 candidates)

C-5 Reports Required for 2018 Candidates

-March 10, 2019: C-5 for Candidates with 2018 campaign accounts open, covering Nov. 22, 2018 through March 5, 2019
-September 10, 2019: C-5 for Candidates with 2018 campaign accounts open, covering March 6, 2019 through Sept. 5, 2019

C-8 Constituent Services Account C-8 Report Due Dates and Guide
1- January 10, 2020
2- April 10, 2020
3- July 10, 2020
4- October 10, 2020

Reporting Calendars