With election season around the corner, USPS® is reminding employees of the do’s, don’ts, and not-while-in-uniform rules of the Hatch Act, which limits political activity among the federal workforce.
Postal Service™ employees may engage in the following activities while off duty, not in uniform, not in a Postal Service vehicle, and not on USPS or other federal property:
n Register and vote as they choose;
n Assist in voter registration drives;
n Express opinions about candidates and issues;
n Be a candidate or participate in nonpartisan elections in which no candidate representing a political party is running;
n Contribute money to political campaigns, parties, and partisan political groups; and
n Place signs on their personal property, though the signs cannot be in view while videoconferencing for work.
Postal Service employees may never:
n Engage in fundraising — soliciting, collecting, or receiving funds — for a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group;
n Host, sell tickets, or invite anyone to a political fundraiser;
n Use their title or position or wear their uniform or any item identifying USPS or their position while engaged in political activity;
n Invite subordinate employees to political events or encourage their involvement in political activity; or
n Be a candidate in a partisan election (where any candidates are running in affiliation with a political party).
While on duty, in uniform, in a postal vehicle, or on postal or other federal property, USPS employees may not:
n Distribute, share, or post political or campaign materials;
n Wear partisan political buttons, shirts, hats, and the like;
n Post, like, tweet, or retweet partisan political content;
n Place a partisan political bumper sticker on a vehicle delivering mail; or
n Express opinions at work that are directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.
For more information about what federal employees can and cannot do under the Hatch Act, visit the U.S. Office of Special Counsel page at osc.gov/Services/Pages/HatchAct.aspx.
For guidance, employees can also send an email to the USPS Ethics Office at ethics.help@usps.gov.