Personnel Issues Reminder On Permitted Political Activity

A reminder on what political activity is permitted for Civil Service workers has been issued by Richard Frank, Director of Personnel and Secretary to the Civil Service Commission.

Frank summarized the rules on political activity (Rule XV of the Civil Service Rules) as follows:

* A Civil Service worker is permitted to make a financial contribution to a candidate’s campaign. This includes purchasing tickets to fund-raising activities.

* However, a candidate, campaign official or job supervisor may not ask, pressure or coerce a Civil Service worker in any way to make a contribution. Promising favorable consideration after an election is considered an enticement, and is forbidden by the Civil Service Rules.

A Civil Service worker:

* may be a member of a political organization (such as a ward organization) but may not be an officer of such an organization;

* may place yard signs at their place of residence;

* may put a bumper sticker on their personal vehicle, so long as the vehicle is not used for City business;

* may wear a political button or insignia, but only off the job;

* may not circulate petitions, mail or distribute literature, call voters on the telephone or work the polls for a particular candidate;

* may perform such campaign activity for non-candidate propositions, such as Charter Amendments, bond issues or tax proposals or other issued-based ballot items.

Rules on political campaign stem from the enactment of the Civil Service
Amendment to the City Charter in September, 1941. The rules, Frank emphasized, are intended to protect Civil Service workers.

Frank said any Civil Service worker who believes they are being pressured to help or to oppose any candidate is strongly urged to report the matter to the
Civil Service Commission office, 622-3403.

Personnel Department
City of St. Louis