Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Getting Started
- Software Download and Install
- MERTS Menu Functions
- Setting Up a Committee
- MERTS File Extension
- Add New or Modify Names
- Importing Names
- Exporting Names
- Add New or Modify Reports
- Importing Transactions
- Exporting Transactions
- Add New or Modify Election Cycle
- Add New or Modify Fund Raiser
- Add New or Modify Direct Contributions
- Add New or Modify Other Receipts
- Add New or Modify In-Kind Contributions
- Add New or Modify Campaigns
- Add New or Modify Direct Expenditures
- Add New or Modify GOTV Expenditures
- Add New or Modify In-Kind Expenditures
- Add New or Modify Independent Expenditures
- Add New or Modify Disbursements
- Add New or Modify Loans Owed BY the Committee
- Add New or Modify Debts Owed TO the Committee
- Add New or Modify Debts Owed BY the Committee
- Add New or Modify Payments to Debts or Loans
- Contribution and Expenditure Limits
- View and Print Campaign Report
- All Transactions Tab
- Run, View and Print Validation Report
- Closing, Adding Treasurer and Uploading Report
- Amending a Campaign Report
- Backing up and Restoring Files
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MERTS Step-by-Step for Ballot Question Committee Setup Video
- Open the MERTS software.
- Choose Create a New Committee File.
Other selections:
- Open an existing committee file – opens a file you have already started.
- Help – directs users the the MERTS website.
- Exit wizard – exits the wizard and return to a gray screen.
To begin setting up the committee select ‘Create a new committee file’.
Please note this should only be selected if:
- This is the first time this committee is filing and no other Reports/Campaign Statement have been submitted electronically,
- The committee has lost it’s previous file and needs to start over,
- Switching from paper to electronic format.
Creating multiple files will cause ending/beginning balance errors as well as not calculating cumulative totals correctly. These types of errors will generate a Notice of Error or Omission. If a file has already been created exit the wizard and locate the file from its saved location.
A confirmation window will appear providing the potential errors of creating a new committee file if one has already been created for this committee.
- Click the ‘I understand and wish to continue..’ check box to proceed with creating a new committee file.
- ‘I understand and wish to continue’- To continue with setting up a new campaign committee.
- ‘I wish to Exit’- Will close the setup feature. Select the ‘Open’ icon
on the toolbar to search for the original file.
- You will be prompted to enter the committee information.
- Click Ok to proceed with the committee information.
or
- Click Cancel to exit.
- Replace My Committee with the committee name on file with the Bureau of Elections. Add the committee identification number, address information and other information requested.
- Ok - saves the entry.
- Cancel - to exit.
- Proceed to enter the election cycle.
- Ok - saves the entry.
- Return to Previous - returns to the previous screen.
- Create an election cycle as shown below:
- Ok - saves the entry.
- Cancel - to exit.
- Amend/Modify Election Cycle
- Select Yes to confirm the entry.
- Select No to disregard change and exit wizard.
- Enter the report.
- Ok - saves the entry.
- Return to Previous - returns to the previous screen.
- Enter the coverage dates for the reporting period and other information requested. Select Get Report Coverage dates here for a complete list of reports dates.
- Ok - saves the entry.
- Cancel - to exit.
- Add Name or Transaction
Select ‘Enter Transactions’ to proceed to the Summary Page and Data Entry tab to start entering transactions.
Or
Select ‘Add Names’ to proceed to the Names tab to start entering names.
- Save As
Save the file, choose a name and location. Enter a file name that is easy to remember and identify as a MERTS file. Note: Replace the default name with a specific name of the committee and not the report/campaign statement. For example JANE SMITH MERTS FILE (Candidates), SAVE THE PEOPLE MERTS FILE (PAC, Ballot Question or Political Party).
