[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR73.735-602]

[Page 170-171]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 73--STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart F--Political Activity
 
Sec. 73.735-602  Permissible activities.

    (a) Section 7324 of Title 5, United States Code, provides that 
employees have the right to vote as they please and to express their 
opinions on political subjects and candidates. Generally, however, 
employees are prohibited from taking an active part in political 
management or political campaigns or using official authority or 
influence to interfere with an election or affect its results. There are 
some exemptions from the restrictions of the statute:
    (1) Employees may engage in political activity in connection with 
any question not specifically identified with a national or State 
political party. They also may engage in political activity in 
connection with an election, if none of the candidates represents a 
party any of whose candidates for presidential elector received votes at 
the last preceding election at which presidential electors were 
selected.
    (2) An exception relates to political campaigns within, or in 
communities adjacent to, the District of Columbia, or in communities the 
majority of whose voters are employees of the Federal government. 
Communities to

[[Page 171]]

which the exception applies are specifically designated by the Office of 
Personnel Management. Information regarding the localities and the 
conditions under which the exceptions are granted may be obtained from 
personnel offices or the Department Counselor or deputy counselors.
    (b) A covered employee is permitted to:
    (1) Register and vote in any election;
    (2) Express his or her opinion as an individual citizen privately 
and publicly on political subjects and candidates;
    (3) Display a political picture, sticker, badge or button;
    (4) Participate in the nonpartisan activities of a civic, community, 
social, labor, or professional organization, or of a similar 
organization;
    (5) Be a member of a political party or other political organization 
and participate in its activities to the extent consistent with law;
    (6) Attend a political convention, rally, fund raising function; or 
other political gathering;
    (7) Sign a political petition as an individual citizen;
    (8) Make a financial contribution to a political party organization;
    (9) Take an active part, as an independent candidate, or support of 
an independent candidate, in a partisan election in localities 
identified as permissible for such activities by the Office of Personnel 
Management;
    (10) Take an active part, as a candidate or in support of a 
candidate, in a nonpartisan election;
    (11) 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;
    (12) Serve as an election judge or clerk, or in a similar position 
to perform nonpartisan duties as prescribed by State or local law; and
    (13) Otherwise participate fully in public affairs, except as 
prohibited by law, in a manner which does not materially compromise his 
or her efficiency or integrity as an employee or the neutrality, 
efficiency, or integrity of his or her agency.
    (c) The head of a principal operating component may prohibit or 
limit the participation of an employee or class of employees of his or 
her component in an activity permitted by paragraph (b) of this section, 
if participation in the activity would interfere with the efficient 
performance of official duties, or create a conflict or apparent 
conflict of interest.