Candidates and Officeholders - Forms and Manuals
The following forms and guides apply to candidates running for local city elective office only and officeholders. Candidates should review the contents on this page and pay particular attention to deadlines and reporting requirements.
Manuals, Guides and Filing Schedules
Manuals & Guides
Candidates should first review the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and San Francisco Ethics Commission (SFEC) guides to running for office.
| Guide Name | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|
| SFEC Candidate Guide for City Elective Office (Revised April 2012) | 147k | |
| SFEC Supplement for Candidates for the Board of Supervisors (Revised April 2013) |
PDF |
851k |
| SFEC Supplement for Candidates for Mayor |
883k | |
| SFEC Filing Guidelines for County Central Committee Candidates | HTML | N/A |
| FPPC Campaign Disclosure Manual 2 - Information for Local Candidates, Superior Court Judges, Their Controlled Committees, and Primarily Formed Committees for Local Candidates | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
| Checklist for Candidates-November 8, 2011 Election | 83k | |
| Notice regarding Campaign Consultant Registration Requirements | HTML | N/A |
| Disclaimer and Filing Requirements for Communications by Candidates for their Own Election | HTML | N/A |
The forms referenced in the guides above are available below.
Filing Schedules
- FPPC Filing Deadlines
- General Ethics Commission Calendar Including Important Deadlines
- Archive of Courtesy Notices since 2011
What You Need To Get Started
Declaring Intent To Be a Candidate and to Solicit and Accept Contributions
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate Intention Statement File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
FPPC Form 501 | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
| Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Accept Contributions File an original and a copy with the Department of Elections |
N/A | Form available from the Department of Elections | N/A |
Required Training for Candidates and Treasurers
Review the training schedule for candidates and treasurers in the Training Section.
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training for Candidates and Treasurers Form File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-107 | PDF / Word | 119k / 55k |
Disclosing Personal Financial Interests
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Economic Interests File an original with the Department of Elections. |
FPPC Form 700 | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
Voluntary Spending Limits
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance of Voluntary Expenditure Ceiling Statement File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-128 | PDF / Word | 161k / 51k |
| Candidate's Notice of Exceeding 100 Percent of the Voluntary Expenditure Ceiling File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-134(b) | PDF / Word | 130k / 51k |
Establishing a Candidate Committee and Filing Disclosure Statements
Establishing the Committee
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Organization File the original signed copy and a duplicate copy with the Secretary of State and two duplicate copies with the Ethics Commission |
FPPC Form 410 | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
Financial Disclosure Reporting
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recipient Committee Campaign Statement Electronically file, if required, and paper File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
FPPC Form 460 | E-File; PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
| Officeholder and Candidate Campaign Statement - Short Form (For candidates who do not raise $1,000 or more and who do not spend $1,000 of their own money) File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
FPPC Form 470 | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
| Late Contribution Report (24 hour report, 16 days before an election) Electronically file, if required, and paper file an original copy with the Ethics Commission (faxed or scanned copies sent via e-mail to the Ethics Commission are acceptable to satisfy the paper filing requirement) |
FPPC Form 497 | E-File; PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
| Sample Contributor Card | N/A | PDF / Word | 58k / 65k |
| Sample Credit Card Authorization Form | N/A | PDF / Word | 14k / 27k |
| Notice by Candidates for Board of Supervisors of Reaching $10,000 Threshold File a copy via fax or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-152(a)-1 | PDF / Word | 52k / 51k |
| Notice by Candidates for Board of Supervisors of Reaching $100,000 Threshold and Supplemental Notice of Reaching Each Additional $10,000 Threshold File a copy via fax or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-152(a)-2 | PDF / Word | 51k / 51k |
| Notice by Candidates for Mayor of Reaching $50,000 Threshold File a copy via fax or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-152(b)-1 | PDF / Word | 51k / 53k |
| Notice by Candidates for Mayor of Reaching $1,000,000 Threshold and Supplemental Notice of Reaching Each Additional $50,000 Threshold File a copy via fax or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-152(b)-2 | PDF / Word | 60k / 56k |
Mass Mailings
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itemized Disclosure Statement for Mass Mailings The SFEC 161a form is a SmartPDF form that can be filed electronically or printed and filed as a paper copy. SmartPDF requires the free Adobe Reader or Nuance PDF Reader to be preinstalled on your computer to file electronically. Adobe Acrobat Professional, Apple Preview, and Adobe Reader for iOS are not compatible with filing a SmartPDF electronically, but can print paper copies. For paper filings, file the original copy with the Ethics Commission. |
SFEC-161(a) | E-file or Print SmartPDF | 385k |
Persuasion Polls
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disclosure and Filing of Persuasion Polls File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-160.5 | PDF / Word | 139k / 97k |
Apply for Public Financing
All Candidates Who Seek Public Funds
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Participation or Non-Participation in Public Financing Program File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-142(a) | PDF / Word | 53k / 51k |
| Campaign Contingency Account File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-108 | PDF / Word | 49k / 51k |
| Request to Receive Notice of The Ethics Commission's Certification of a Candidate's Eligibility to Receive Public Funds File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-152(c) | PDF / Word | 86k / 52k |
| Requests by Candidates for Independent Determination of Filings Required Under Sections SFEC-152(a)3 or SFEC-152(b)-3 of S.F. Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance File a copy via fax or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-143 | PDF / Word | 45k / 62k |
Candidates for Board of Supervisors Who Seek Public Funds
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration for Public Funds by Candidates for the Board of Supervisors File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-142(b)-1 | PDF / Word | 64k / 64k |
| Qualifying Contributions List by Candidates for the Board of Supervisors File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-142(c)-1 | Excel | 53k |
| Application for Additional Public Funds by Candidates for the Board of Supervisors File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-144(d)-1 | PDF / Word | 61k / 61k |
| Matching Contributions List Board of Supervisors File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-144(d)-2 | Excel | 52k |
| Statement by Candidate Regarding His/Her Trust Account Limit File a copy via fax, e-mail or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
N/A | PDF / Word | 49.8k / 38.4k |
Candidates for Mayor Who Seek Public Funds
| Form | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration for Public Funds by Candidates for Mayor File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-142(b)-2 | PDF / Word | 67k / 68k |
| Qualifying Contributions List by Candidates for Mayor File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-142(c)-2 | Excel | 70k |
| Application for Additional Public Funds by Candidates for Mayor File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-144(c)-1 | PDF / Word | 65k / 58k |
| Matching Contributions List (Mayor) File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-144(c)-2 | Excel | 48k |
| Statement by Candidate Regarding His/Her Trust Account Limit File a copy via fax, e-mail or personal delivery with the Ethics Commission |
N/A | PDF / Word | 51k / 58k |
Transfer of Funds
| Form | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer of Funds File an original and a copy with the Ethics Commission |
SFEC-122 | PDF / Word | 70k |
Preparing for an Audit
Each candidate's campaign activity may be subject to audit by the Ethics Commission, the FPPC or the Franchise Tax Board. Audits are conducted to determine whether candidates and committees have complied with applicable requirements and prohibitions imposed by State and local law. The Ethics Commission randomly selects candidates and committees for audit. Local law requires the Ethics Commission to audit all candidates who receive public funds.
Fines
Any person who violates any of the reporting requirements or contribution or expenditure limitations, including both paper and electronic reporting requirements, set forth in state or local law, may be subject to fines, penalties and/or imprisonment. Fines vary depending on the violation but potentially are significant—and can be as much as three times the amount of money received or spent in excess of legal limits. In addition to any other penalties that may be imposed, late fees for filing any copy of a statement or report filed after the deadline are $10 per day for paper filings, limited to the amount of activity during the reporting period or $100, whichever is greater. In addition, there is a $25 per day fee for electronic statements or reports filed after the deadline, limited to the amount of activity during the reporting period or $250, whichever is greater.
- San Francisco Ethics Commission's policy on fines and waivers
- Pay late fees on-line with a debit/credit card or e-check
Contributions Received by Candidates
City Officer Filings
Contract Approval
| Form Name | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notification of Contract Approval File a copy via e-mail, fax, or personal delivery to the Ethics Commission. |
SFEC-126 | PDF / Word | 222k / 62k |
Payments Made at the Behest of an Elected Officer
| Form | Form # | Location / File Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behested Payment Report This form should be filed with the elected officer's agency. Elected officers should not file the form directly with the Ethics Commission. Within 30 days of receipt of the report, the elected officer's agency must forward a copy of the report to the Ethics Commission. |
FPPC Form 803 | PDF available from the FPPC | N/A |
