Memo revised on November 18, 2021
If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please contact your department's County Counsel representative.
The following are examples of inappropriate and appropriate activities. This is not an exhaustive list.
DON'T
County officials and employees may not:
- Distribute campaign literature through the County's internal mail system.
- Place campaign literature on employee bulletin boards, on the County's website, or elsewhere on County government premises.
- Make public appearances speaking in favor of a ballot measure or candidate during compensated work hours.
- Make telephone calls about a campaign during compensated work hours.
- Walk precincts, draft campaign ads, or perform other campaign tasks during compensated work hours (nor may you assign subordinates to do the same).
- Add a link from the County website to a campaign website.
- Send campaign-related emails on County computers or using a County email address.
- Urge other County employees to vote for a measure or candidate during compensated work hours.
- Use County copy machines, scanners, telephones, fax machines, computers, stationery, etc. for campaign purposes.
- Distribute or post political literature other than regularly distributed or posted newsletters, the regular focus of which is not political.
- Wear campaign buttons, pins or banners in instances where official duties require meeting with the public.
DO
County officials and employees may:
- Work on a campaign during personal time, including lunch hours, coffee breaks, vacations, etc.
- Make a campaign contribution using personal funds.
- Attend a campaign fundraiser on personal time.
- At the direction of the proper County authority, continue expending County resources and staff time to influence the California Legislature for County (not personal) purposes in accordance with County policies regarding such matters.