CFR

734.205—Participation in political campaigns.

Subject to the prohibitions in § 734.306, an employee may:

(a) Display pictures, signs, stickers, badges, or buttons associated with political parties, candidates for partisan political office, or partisan political groups, as long as these items are displayed in accordance with the provisions of § 734.306 of subpart C of this part;

(b) Initiate or circulate a nominating petition for a candidate for partisan political office;

(c) Canvass for votes in support of or in opposition to a partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office;

(d) Endorse or oppose a partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office in a political advertisement, broadcast, campaign literature, or similar material;

(e) Address a convention, caucus, rally, or similar gathering of a political party or political group in support of or in opposition to a partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office; and

(f) Take an active part in managing the political campaign of a partisan political candidate or a candidate for political party office.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 1: An employee of the Environmental Protection Agency may broadcast endorsements for a partisan political candidate via a public address system attached to his or her private automobile.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 2: An employee of the Department of Interior may canvass voters by telephone on behalf of a political party or partisan political candidate.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 3: An employee of the Department of Agriculture may stand outside of polling places on election day and hand out brochures on behalf of a partisan political candidate or political party.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 4: An employee may appear in a television or radio broadcast which endorses a partisan political candidate and is sponsored by the candidate's campaign committee, a political party, or a partisan political group.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 5: An independent contractor is not covered by this part and may display a political button while performing the duties for which he or she is contracted.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 6: An employee of the Department of Commerce who is on official travel may take annual leave in the morning to give an address at a breakfast for a candidate for partisan political office.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 7: An employee may manage the political campaign of a candidate for public office including supervising paid and unpaid campaign workers.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 8: While not on duty, a Federal employee may distribute campaign leaflets by hand to homes or parked cars even though the leaflet may contain information concerning where to send contributions among other factual material about a partisan political candidate. However, should a member of the public stop the employee and request further information about contributions, the employee should refer that request to another campaign worker who is not a Federal employee.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 9: An employee may place in his or her front yard a sign or banner supporting a partisan political candidate.

Code of Federal Regulations

[59 FR 48769, Sept. 23, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 35100, July 5, 1996]

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