40-318. LIMITATION OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY. (1) No officer or employee of the department or board shall:

(a) Use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election to or a nomination for office, or affecting the result thereof;

(b) Directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or direct any other such officer or employee to pay, lend, or contribute any part of his salary or compensation or anything else of value to any party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes; or

(c) Be a candidate and hold elective office in any partisan election.

(2) All such officers and employees shall retain the right to:

(a) Register and vote in any election;

(b) Express an opinion as an individual privately and publicly on political subjects and candidates;

(c) Display a political picture, sticker, badge, or button;

(d) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, social, labor, or professional organization, or of a similar organization;

(e) Be a member of a political party or other political organization and participate in its activities;

(f) Attend a political convention, rally, fund-raising function, or other political gathering;

(g) Sign a political petition as an individual;

(h) Make a financial contribution to a political party or organization;

(i) Take an active part in support of a candidate in an election;

(j) Be politically active in connection with a question which is not specifically identified with a political party, such as a constitutional amendment, referendum, approval of a municipal ordinance or any other question or issue of a similar character;

(k) Serve as an election judge or clerk, or in a similar position to perform nonpartisan duties as prescribed by state or local law;

(l) Be a candidate and hold elective office in any nonpartisan election;

(m) Take an active part in political organization management; and

(n) Otherwise participate fully in public affairs, except as prohibited by law, in a manner which does not materially compromise the neutrality, efficiency, or integrity of the officer’s or employee’s administration of state functions.

History:

[40-318, added 1990, ch. 356, sec. 2, p. 964.]