Iowa Admin. Code r. 351-5.4 - Use of public resources for a political purpose prohibited
(1)
General prohibition. Unless one of the exceptions in
rule
351-5.5
(68A) applies, the public officials and public employees of the
executive branch of state government, a county, city, public school,
or other political subdivision shall not permit public resources to
be used to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of
a candidate or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a
ballot issue.
(2)
Specific prohibitions. For purposes of clarifying
the general prohibition on the use of public resources for a
political purpose, the board has identified situations in which the
use of public resources for a political purpose is prohibited unless
one of the exceptions in rule
351-5.5
(68A) applies. The following specific conduct or actions are deemed
to be the prohibited use of public resources for a political purpose:
a. Using public resources to
solicit or accept campaign contributions.
b. Using public resources to
solicit votes, engage in campaign work, or poll voters on their
preferences for candidates or ballot issues. The prohibition on
polling voters by using public resources does not apply to authorized
research at a public university.
c. Using a publicly owned motor
vehicle to transport political materials, placing campaign signs on a
publicly owned motor vehicle, or traveling to campaign-related events
in a publicly owned motor vehicle.
d. Using public resources to
produce and distribute communications that expressly advocate for or
against candidates or that expressly advocate for or against ballot
issues.
e. Placing
campaign materials on public property including the placement of
campaign signs in the public right-of-way.
(3)
Transportation
maps. As provided in Iowa department of transportation rule
761-28.3 (307),
Iowa transportation maps are not to be sold or used for purposes of
personal or professional gain. The paper version of the map is not to
be altered for distribution in any way, including adding a name or
address, by candidates running for political office. This prohibition
does not apply to pictures of the governor and lieutenant governor
and a personal message which may appear on the map.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 68A.505.
Notes
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