Jonah Patel
Montana state law requires that all election communications, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures include an attribution disclosing who funded the communication, and the contact information for the source. The Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) is charged with protecting and ensuring the integrity and transparency of campaigns, politics, and government in Montana. The COPP monitors and enforces Montana's campaign finance laws, ethical standards for legislators, public officers, and state employees, and investigates campaign finance and lobbying complaints. All candidates running for elected office in Montana are subject to contribution limits, which detail the maximum amount a candidate may accept from individuals and political committees.
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What You'll Learn
Campaign finance requirements
With the exception of candidates for county, municipal or school district offices spending less than $500 in all elections in a campaign, all candidates must adhere to the campaign finance reporting requirements established in Title 13, Chapter 37 of the Montana Code Annotated. Candidates submit regular finance reports via forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Political Practices (Form C-5, Candidate Campaign Finance Reports), which require disclosure of the following types of information: Cash summary; money received and spent; details of cash transactions only for the reporting period. Certain contributions made near the date of the election require special disclosure.
Any statewide candidate must report contributions of $200 or more from a single source between the 10th day before an election and the date of an election within 24 hours of receipt. Any legislative or Public Service Commission candidate must report contributions of $100 or more from a single source between the 17th day before an election and the date of an election within 48 hours of receipt. Such contributions should be reported via a Form C-7, provided by the Commissioner of Political Practices.
Montana's campaign contribution limits apply per election. Candidates for Governor/Lt. Governor: $1,120 per election; Candidates for Other Statewide Office: $790 per election; Candidates for Other Public Office: $450 per election.
Montana law requires that all election communications, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures include an attribution disclosing who the communication is funded by, and contact information for the source. If your campaign material is too small to include an attribution, you must file a copy of the material or item with the Commissioner of Political Practices with attribution at the time the material is published. All election communications are legally required to include attribution that identifies the entity that paid for the communication.
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Campaign contribution limits
The contribution limits for the 2024-2025 election cycle have been increased to $1,120 per election for a candidate for governor and lieutenant governor, $790 per election for a candidate for statewide office, and $450 per election for a candidate for other public offices. These represent increases of $120, $90, and $50, respectively, from the previous limits.
Political Party Committees may not contribute to candidates for judicial offices, including the Supreme Court Justice, District Judge, and Justice of the Peace. However, they may endorse a candidate for judicial office and make independent expenditures relating to such an election.
Additionally, any statewide candidate must report contributions of $200 or more from a single source between the 10th day before an election and the date of an election within 24 hours of receipt. Legislative or Public Service Commission candidates must report contributions of $100 or more from a single source between the 17th day before an election and the election date within 48 hours of receipt.
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Campaign attribution requirements
Montana state law requires that all election communications, electioneering communications, and independent expenditures include an attribution disclosing who funded the communication, and contact information for the source (Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-225). This includes text messages, which are regulated by the federal TCPA law.
If campaign materials are too small to include an attribution, a copy of the material or item with the attribution must be filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices at the time of publishing. If an error is found, the person financing the communication must notify the Commissioner within two days of discovering the error and correct the materials.
The Commissioner of Political Practices has jurisdiction over upholding and enforcing the "paid for by" attribution message on political signs. The COPP does not have oversight over when citizens may begin to display political signs or when those signs must be taken down. Local governments are responsible for regulating the timeline for political signs.
Candidates for office must designate a campaign treasurer, who is responsible for depositing and disbursing funds, keeping accurate account records, and administering the various financial affairs of the campaign. The candidate must submit a Statement of Candidate C-1 form within five days of becoming a candidate. This statement must include the full name and complete address of the campaign treasurer and any deputy treasurers, as well as the name and address of the financial depository. With the exception of candidates for county, municipal or school district offices spending less than $500 in all elections in a campaign, all candidates must adhere to the campaign finance reporting requirements established in Title 13, Chapter 37 of the Montana Code Annotated.
Montana's campaign contribution limits apply per election. If there is a contested primary, then there are two elections to which the contribution limits apply.
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Campaign treasurer requirements
Each candidate for office in Montana must designate a campaign treasurer. The candidate themselves may serve as their own treasurer or deputy treasurer, or they may appoint someone else to do so. The treasurer must be registered to vote in Montana.
The campaign treasurer is responsible for depositing and disbursing funds, keeping accurate account records, and administering the various financial affairs of the campaign. They must also keep a written log of all expenditures from a constituent services account, documenting at least one constituent on whose behalf the services were provided.
Within five days of becoming a candidate, the candidate must submit a Statement of Candidate C-1 form to the Commissioner of Political Practices and the election administrator of their county of residence. This statement must include the full name and complete address of the campaign treasurer and any deputy treasurers, as well as the name and address of the financial depository in which the campaign's account is located.
All candidates, with a few exceptions, must adhere to the campaign finance reporting requirements established in Title 13, Chapter 37 of the Montana Code Annotated. Candidates must submit regular finance reports via forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Political Practices (Form C-5, Candidate Campaign Finance Reports), which require the disclosure of cash summaries, money received and spent, and details of cash transactions within the reporting period. Certain contributions made near the date of the election must be specially disclosed.
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Campaign finance reporting requirements
All candidates running for elected office in Montana are subject to contribution limits, which detail the maximum amount a candidate may accept from individuals and political committees. These limits vary depending on the office being sought and are as follows:
- Candidates for Governor/Lt. Governor: $1,120 per election
- Candidates for Other Statewide Office: $790 per election
- Candidates for Public Service Commission: $16,850 per election
- Candidate for State Senate: $3,350 per election
- Candidates for Other Public Office: $2,250 per election
In addition to contribution limits, candidates must also adhere to campaign finance reporting requirements established in Title 13, Chapter 37 of the Montana Code Annotated. Candidates are required to submit regular finance reports via Form C-5, Candidate Campaign Finance Reports, which include a cash summary and details of money received, spent, and deposited during the reporting period. Certain contributions made near the election date, typically within 10 to 17 days before the election, must be reported within 24 to 48 hours of receipt and require special disclosure. These contributions are reported using Form C-7, provided by the Commissioner of Political Practices.
Furthermore, all election communications, including electioneering communications and independent expenditures, are legally required to include an attribution disclosing who funded the communication and the contact information for the source. This requirement extends to text messages and political signs, where applicable. The COPP is responsible for enforcing these attribution requirements and ensuring compliance with the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Montana state employees can participate in political campaigns. The Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) ensures the integrity and transparency of campaigns, politics, and government in Montana.
Yes, Montana state employees can donate to political campaigns. However, there are contribution limits that detail the maximum amount a candidate may accept from individuals and political committees.
Yes, Montana state employees are allowed to work on a political campaign while off duty, but they must not use state resources or time to do so.
