Political Activity Policy Frequently Asked Questions
Permissible Nonpartisan Educational Activity
Examples include creating and conducting voter information programs or online webinars designed to increase students’ understanding of the electoral process or to encourage members of the campus community to become involved in the electoral process.
Such programming must be nonpartisan in the recruitment of instructors, advertising, invitations to students, and the curriculum for the event and must not violate Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act.
The program should be widely publicized.
Yes. The College may explain, in practical terms, voting laws, processes, and deadlines
regarding voter registration and provide links to nonpartisan tools for registration
and voting.
Yes. The College may send emails and text messages and use its social media platforms
to encourage voter registration and voting and to remind students of important deadlines,
such as voter registration, absentee ballot requests, and ballot receipts.
Yes. Students may be unsure about their ability to vote by mail and their eligibility
to submit a ballot. The College may provide information regarding residency eligibility,
processes and deadlines for students who wish to vote by mail in their community.
Impermissible Educational Activities That May Be Seen as Partisan
An example of an impermissible educational activity could be conducting a voter education event that focuses on a narrow range of issues or is skewed in favor of a certain political candidate or party.
No. This should be avoided, as publishing candidate ratings could reasonably be perceived
as reflecting the views or endorsement of the College.
Guidance for Employees
Yes, College employees may not use College resources to engage in political activities.
This includes, but is not limited to, the use of college telephones, email accounts,
offices, Zoom or Teams accounts, mailing supplies, or an employee’s official work
time.
Yes. The Michigan Campaign Finance Act does not restrict a College employee’s right
to participate in the political process as long as the employee is acting in a personal
capacity, not on behalf of the College, and uses only their personal time, funds,
and resources.
Yes. However, campaign activities must be conducted on the employee’s personal time
and College resources may not be used. If campaign or election activities interfere
with the employee’s work obligations, the employee may be required to take a leave
of absence for the period of the activity.
No, this type of fundraising is not permitted on campus. This type of event may be
held off campus, as long as College funds are not used to support the event and there
is no suggestion of College involvement in the fundraising event.
Please first check with the College’s Office of Government Affairs, but generally,
yes, so long as OCC policies are followed for the use of campus facilities, the event
is educational, and other groups have access to campus spaces who may have opposing
views.
No, this is not permitted as it would be the use of a college resource, the office
itself, to provide a candidate or ballot initiative, which violates the Campaign Finance
Act. The same prohibition applies to the use of other College provided resources,
such as a computer, cell phone, or web conferencing account.
No, the post would likely be removed because the College’s official social media sites
must remain neutral. Keeping a posting, as described, could be viewed as indicating
that the College is in agreement with the posting. Factual campaign related material
could be posted. Additionally, College employees can post items supporting their particular
candidates or positions on their personal social media accounts.
Using an official work title inappropriately implies that you represent the College
or that you are speaking on behalf of the College. The easiest solution is to not
include your affiliation with the College when you write the letter or make a social
media posting. An alternative is to include a disclaimer that your position or title
is for identification purposes only and that your position does not signify College
support for or endorsement of a candidate, ballot question or election issue.
No, email is a College resource and it cannot be used to advocate on behalf of a political
candidate, party, or political position.
Yes, that research work could be done utilizing College resources because the Michigan
Campaign Finance Act permits scholarly activity as long as there is no advocacy either
for or against a particular cause or candidate.
Facility Questions
Yes, but College policies must be followed. Outside groups or individuals must follow
the College’s standard rental procedures for the use of College facilities. Additionally,
candidates or political causes cannot fundraise on campus. The College rental policies
give individuals and groups equal access and help to avoid mistaken perceptions that
the College supports or endorses a campaign related event on campus.
Registered Student Organizations (RSO)
Yes, but invitations to events that are open to the general public and conducted on
OCC’s College campuses must be extended to all legally qualified candidates. While
an RSO can endorse a particular candidate or position, they must take appropriate
steps to avoid the appearance of the College’s endorsement of or opposition to a particular
candidate or ballot measure. RSOs are not permitted to use any funding originating
from the College to endorse, lobby, support, or host an event on behalf of a candidate
for public office or for a political campaign.
Change Log
- 08-24-26 — Approved by Executive Council