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Hatch Act Dos and Don'ts

Following are the permitted and prohibited activities under the Hatch Act reform legislation signed into law by President Bill Clinton on Feb. 4, 1994:

Permitted Activities

Register and vote in any election.
May solicit, accept and receive political contributions for the Supervisors' Political Action Committee (SPAC).
Take an active part as a candidate, or in support of a candidate, in a nonpartisan election.
Take an active part in managing the political campaign of a partisan political candidate or a candidate for a political party office.
Serve as an election judge or clerk, or in a similar position, to perform nonpartisan duties as prescribed by state or local law.
Be a member of a political party or other political group, and participate in its activities.
Serve as an officer of a political party or other political group; a member of a national, state or local committee of a political party; an officer or member of a committee; or be a candidate for any of these positions.
Attend and participate fully in the business of the nominating caucuses of political parties.
Participate in a political convention, rally or other political gathering.
Drive voters to polling places for a partisan political candidate, partisan political group or political party.
May contribute money to political organizations.
May attend political fundraising functions.
May anonymously stuff envelopes with campaign literature that includes an appeal for political contributions.
May give a speech at a fundraiser, as long as the speech does not include an appeal for political contributions.
May be identified as a guest speaker on an invitation to a fundraiser, as long as the reference in no way suggests that the employee is soliciting or encouraging contributions.
May serve as treasurer of a campaign or political organization, if the duties are limited to preparing financial disclosure forms, giving advice, etc.
May serve as an officer or chairperson of a political fundraising organization or committee, as long as he or she does not personally solicit, accept or receive political contributions.
May help organize a fundraiser, as long as he or she does not personally solicit, accept or receive political contributions.
May solicit, accept and receive political contributions on behalf of a candidate for public office in a local, nonpartisan election.
May solicit, accept and receive political contributions for his or her own campaign for public office in a local, nonpartisan election.
May solicit, accept and receive political contributions on behalf of a nonpartisan group.

Prohibited Activities

May not be a candidate in a partisan election.
May not participate in political activities:

While on duty;
While wearing a uniform, badge, insignia or other similar item that identifies the employing agency or instrumentality or the position of the employee;
While in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by any individual employed by or holding office in the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality thereof; or
While using a government-owned or -leased vehicle or while using a privately owned vehicle in the discharge of official duties.

May not solicit, accept or receive political contributions from the general public, ecept under specifically defined circumstances.
May not coerce another employee to make a political contribution.
May not become personally identified with partisan fundraising activities.
May not solicit personal services, paid or unpaid, from a business or corporation.
May not sign campaign letters that include a solicitation for political contributions.
May not participate, even anonymously, in phone bank solicitations for political contributions.
May not solicit political contributions in speeches given at fundraisers.
May not otherwise allow the use of his or her name on an invitation to a fundraiser, as a sponsor of a fundraiser or as a point of contact for the fundraiser.
May not serve as treasurer if the duties include solicitation, acceptance or receipt of political contributions.

National Association of Postal Supervisors
1727 King Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314-2753

(703) 836-9660 (phone)
(703) 836-9665 (fax)