Because faculty and staff who work for Metro State are employees of the state of Colorado, there are laws that restrict their political activities. Here are some things to remember:

Individual campaigns for public office

1. It is illegal to campaign for or against a candidate for public office on state time or using state funds.
2. It is perfectly legal to work for a campaign on your own time or donate personal resources to a candidate or campaign.

Ballot issues or referenda

1. It is illegal for a state organization or employee to campaign for or against ballot issues and referenda during state time or using state monies.
2. However, for state entities that might be directly affected by a ballot initiative, the organization may provide objective information about the affects the measure could have. A state employee, therefore, may respond to questions about a ballot issue if the question is unsolicited. No employee may spend more than $50 responding to any one issue.
3. For example, if a faculty member was giving a speech and an unsolicited question about an initiative arose from the audience, the faculty member could respond to the question as long as he or she doesn’t take a position for or against the initiative.
4. A state organization such as Metro State may expend funds to create an “unbiased faculty summary” on issues of “official concern” to the organization. The summary must include arguments for and against the measure and cannot encourage voters to vote one way or another.
5. The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that state organizations must be very mindful not to “attempt to sway the electorate” on ballot proposals because public funds “belong equally to the proponents and opponents of the proposition.”
6. It is perfectly legal to work on your own time for or donate personal resources to ballot issues or referenda.

State employees running for office

1. The federal “Hatch Act” prohibits state employees from becoming candidates for “elective partisan office” if your principal employment is connected to federal funds. If you are considering a run for office, you must determine whether you are a “covered employee.” The Hatch Act may apply even if a small amount of your work is federally funded or if you oversee employees whose work is federally funded.
2. The Hatch Act is very complex. If you or someone you manage is interested in running for office, your division may need to consult an attorney about how to proceed.