Prohibition Against Use of Town Resources to Disseminate Information on Prospective Ballot Questions
On September 24 and 25, 2025, the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk attended the Massachusetts Town Clerks' Association Conference. At the Conference, we asked a questions about using Town resources for prospective ballot questions. The Director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance clearly stated that Town resources may not be used to provide any information, including objective information.
OCPF often receives questions about using public resources ( e.g. paper, postage, personnel) for
political purposes, particularly regarding distributing information to voters for ballot question
elections. A policy-making official may research and analyze the impact a potential ballot
question may have on matters that are within their scope of responsibility, and may compile
material relative to that analysis. That report is a public record and is available to the public upon
request as any public record is. However, the municipality cannot distribute that report unless it
is requested. Public resources may not be used to distribute information regarding a ballot
question, even if the information is intended to be objective and factual, unless requested or
expressly authorized by state law, such as Section 18B.
Chapter 53, Section 18B has not been accepted by Needham. Follow the link for the Full text of the OCPF Director's Guidance.
