From the Vice President for Finance and Management
The following is a reminder of the state’s policy regarding the need to separate political campaign activities by state employees from the conduct of official business.
While employees are not discouraged from participating in the political campaign process, they must keep their political campaign activities separate from the discharge of their duties as state employees. For the purposes of these guidelines, “political campaign activities” include any act, activity, or event designed to communicate a political endorsement, urge voters to vote for a particular candidate, support a political party, or raise funds for a political candidate or party.
Political campaign activities—such as campaigning, coordinating volunteers, and soliciting or receiving campaign contributions—are not within the scope of the official duties of executive branch employees, and they may not conduct campaign activities on state time. Performing political campaign activities on state time may subject employees to criminal prosecution and the loss of employment.
In addition, and in furtherance of the Governor’s Executive Order No. 7, all state vehicles, offices, equipment, and resources, including telephones, computers, fax machines, office supplies, postage, photocopying machines, and support staff assistance, are the property of the state, and employees may not use that property for assistance for political campaign activities. In those limited circumstances where employees are permitted personal use of state property—for example, vehicles assigned to individuals for both business and personal use—employees must make an appropriate accounting of the use of that property for political campaign activity.
Employees are also reminded they are prohibited from engaging in the political activities stated in Section 74 of the Public Officers Law, Section 107 of the Civil Service Law, and Sections 17–156 of the Election Law.
Section 74 of the Public Officers Law states a Code of Ethics for state employees. Information on the restrictions that Section 74 places on political activities of state employees may be found at www.nyintegrity.org/pubs/political_activities.html.
Section 107 of the Civil Service Law protects state civil service employees from discriminatory practices based on political affiliations. Under this provision, covered individuals may not be asked to reveal their political affiliations or opinions in order to determine fitness for office. In addition, the appointment selection or removal of civil service employees to or from state employment may not be affected or influenced by political opinions or affiliations.
Section 107 further prohibits state employees from using their official positions to compel state employees to give political contributions and from using state offices to collect such contributions.
Finally, Section 107 prohibits state employees from using or promising to use their official authority to coerce or persuade the vote or political action of any individual.
