It’s election season again and state and local political campaigns are kicking into high gear. In advance of the upcoming election season, the District is providing a reminder of the guidelines all District employees and officers must abide by during this time. Round Rock ISD encourages and actively supports its employees in our civic obligation to vote and we understand that many of our employees are engaged in a variety of civics, activism, and politics in our community, state, and country.
The key is not to use school district resources – work time, money, facilities, equipment, or supplies for any partisan election activity or communications. Both the Texas Election Code and the Texas Education Code prohibit knowingly using public funds, directly or indirectly, for political advertising to advocate for or against any candidate, measure, or political party. This prohibition is interpreted broadly to include, without limitation, District employees’ work time, District computers and equipment, District email systems, copiers, fax machines, District supplies, and District-owned or controlled property.
Official meetings, such as staff meetings, training, and professional development, and events like conducting classrooms are examples of official District business; therefore, all staff members must adhere to these same requirements while engaging in these activities.
If you are showing support for a specific candidate, political party, or measure that appears on the ballot, then you should take care to avoid using any resources of the school District while doing so.
Additionally, Texas law prohibits communications endorsing a particular candidate or group of candidates, even if the employee does not mention the specific candidate by name. An example of such prohibited communication would be where an employee avoids using the candidate or party name but instead uses catchphrases or inferences to make clear which candidate or group they are endorsing. If your political endorsement is sufficiently clear then the communication is unlawful.
Teachers may ask, “Am I able to discuss a particular political race for educational purposes in the classroom?” The answer is yes, as long as when doing so educators discuss and examine all sides of an issue, or all candidates involved are equally and fairly discussed, demonstrating no clear or implied favoritism or preference.
Texas law on electioneering and misappropriating District resources does not distinguish between national, state, or local matters. The restrictions are equally applicable to all elections.
Additional information is available from the Texas Ethics Commission.