May 1 elections: what employees need to know

With early voting in the May 1 local elections just around the corner, it is important to remember the rules and restrictions applicable to all District employees. State law prohibits school district employees or officials from using public funds or resources, either directly or indirectly, for political advertising to advocate for or against a candidate or a measure that will appear on a ballot. The use of any District employee time, equipment, property, or facility, even if considered to be minimal, for political advertising is strictly forbidden and can constitute a criminal offense. These prohibitions are applicable to all elections, including national, state, and local elections.

What Employees CAN Do:

• Encourage a culture of participation in the election process or inform staff and students of purely factual information related to elections such as dates and times for voting and polling sites. Communications with factual information, however, can still violate the prohibitions against political advertising if they also include persuasive slogans or any message of advocacy.

• Advertise or electioneer for or against a candidate or a measure or proposition on a ballot outside of the employee’s workday (on his or her own time), using his/her own equipment or technology and clearly acting in his/her personal, not professional, capacity.

• Vote! Dates and local voting centers are as follows:
  
  Early Voting: Monday, April 19 - Tuesday, April 27
  Monday - Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  Sunday, noon to 6:00 p.m.
  - Bee Cave City Hall, 4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave, 78738
  - Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, 78734
  
  Election Day, Saturday, May 1
  All locations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  - Lake Travis Middle School, 4932 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood, 78669
  - Bee Cave City Hall, 4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave, 78738
  - Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, 78734
  - Lake Travis ISD Educational Development Center, 607 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, 78734

What Employees CANNOT Do:

• Advertise or electioneer for or against a candidate or proposition on a ballot during the workday or while being paid by the District. Employee time constitutes a public resource.

• Utilize any District resources to create, reproduce or distribute materials or information supporting or opposing a candidate or proposition on a ballot. This includes resources such as computer, phone, fax, photocopier, bulletin board, District email systems, District social media platforms, other District electronic communication tools, or employee mailboxes.

• Hang fliers or other materials supporting or opposing a candidate or proposition on a ballot in employee lounges or other areas that are for the use of District employees and are closed to the public.

• Wear political clothing or regalia during the workday or post political signs in the physical or virtual classroom that advocate for or against a candidate or proposition on a ballot.

Visit our Elections webpage for a sample ballot of the Lake Travis ISD Board Trustee Election. For more information about all May 1 elections, visit the Travis County Elections Office website.