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
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.
- 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


- Save As
