Public Employees and Campaigns

M.G.L. Chapter 55, the Campaign Finance Law, regulates political activity by public employees and the use of public buildings and resources in campaigns.  Public employees who take part in political campaigns and the candidates and committees they support should be aware of these sections of the law.

Section 13: Public Employees

No person employed for compensation by agencies of the Commonwealth, its cities, towns and counties, other than an elected official, may directly or indirectly solicit or receive a contribution or anything of value for any political purpose (e.g., candidates, parties, PACs, ballot question committees).

A public employee may not:
  • sell tickets to a political fundraiser or otherwise solicit or collect political contributions in any manner, including in person, by phone, by e-mail or by conventional mail.
  • sponsor or host a political fundraising event.
  • allow his or her name to be used in a fundraising letter, advertisement, phone call or e-mail.
  • help identify people to be targeted for political fundraising.
  • serve as treasurer of a political committee.
A public employee may:
  • contribute to candidates and attend fundraisers.
  • run for office (a employee must organize a campaign committee if he or she plans to raise any money).
  • work for campaigns and committees in a non-fundraising capacity, such as holding signs, stuffing envelopes, hosting coffees or other meetings, or being a member of a committee.
Section 14: Government Buildings

Soliciting or receiving campaign contributions in a government building is prohibited.  Examples include city and town halls, public schools, libraries, police and fire stations and public works buildings.

No one (not just public employees) may:
  • sell tickets to a fundraiser or otherwise solicit or collect political contributions in a public building.
  • send a solicitation into a government building, such as by phone, mail or e-mail.
  • use a public building as the site of a fundraiser, the return address for contributions or the contact phone number for buying tickets to a fundraiser.
  • post in a public building any advertisement for a fundraiser.
Use of Public Resources

Public resources (government vehicles, office equipment and supplies and the paid time of public employees) may not be used for political campaign purposes, such as the election of a candidate or the passage or defeat of a ballot question.  For example, a public employee may not, during his work day, render campaign service to a candidate or ballot question committee or use office postage or equipment to distribute campaign material.

For more information, download our Campaign Finance Guide: Public Employees, Public Resources and Political Activity.