Library: Policy

340:2-1-4. Political activity

Revised 9-15-21

(a) A state employee may not:

(1) use his or her position for the purpose of interfering with an election to, or a nomination for, office or affecting the result thereof;

(2) wear a campaign item, such as a button, hat, or badge during the hours he or she is officially in work status for the agency;

(3) wear items, such as a uniform, badge, or anything that identifies him or her as a state employee while engaged in political activity or while campaigning for himself or herself, or any candidate for office;

(4) disseminate, either directly or indirectly, any political commentary, discussion, or advertisement for non-work purposes during the hours he or she is officially in work status for the agency;

(5) campaign for, or on behalf of, any candidate or ballot or election question, during the hours the employee is officially in work status for the agency; or

(6) become a candidate for an elective public office in a partisan election or in which the office has direct or indirect oversight of the agency.

(b) A state employee not directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or direct any state employee to pay, lend, or contribute any part of his or her salary or compensation, time, effort, or anything else of value to any party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes.  Any person convicted of willfully violating the provisions of Section 360 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes is guilty of a felony and is punished by the imposition of a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or by imprisonment for not longer than two years, or by both said fine and imprisonment.

(c) Agency positions that are partially federally funded are also subject to provisions of the Hatch Act, Sections 1501 et. seq. of Title 5 of the United States Code.  In addition to certain prohibitions listed above in subsection (a), the Hatch Act also prohibits state employees who are in 100 percent federally funded positions from running for election for a partisan office.

(d) Violations of any provision in this Section may result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, written reprimand, demotion, or termination.