The Ethics Commission on Friday denied appeals by four supervisorial candidates to participate in the city’s public financing program, which could have funneled tens of thousands of dollars of city funds into their campaigns.

The denials came down to the candidates’ failure to check a little box on a form on time.

All four candidates — Uzuri Pease-Greene in District 10, Arthur Tom and Trevor McNeil in District Four and Sonja Trauss in District Six — did not complete and sign the official Statement of Participation or Non-Participation by the June 12 deadline.

The idea behind the public financing program is to help eligible candidates offset campaign costs by matching contributions up to $155,000. During their appeals, each of the candidates said they should not be punished for what seemed to them like a simple administrative mistake.

Some, like Tom, a tax auditor for the city, said they desperately need the money to continue with the campaign.

“There’s no way I can do it on my own,” Tom said. “I’m at a disadvantage right from the start. ... I’m the exact person who this program was set up to help.”

While Commissioner Daina Chiu said she was sympathetic to the candidates, she said the law was clear that they had to file the intent to participate by the deadline. But, she added that the commission is open to revisiting the program’s protocols.

“This is difficult and unfortunate, and we are all very sympathetic,” she said. “But as the rules stand now there is not much leeway ... and for the purpose of creating a regime around (the rules), imperfect as they may be, that is what we must follow now.”

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani