Michigan Campaign Finance Act Do's and Don'ts
School board members and school employees are required to abide by Michigan's Campaign Finance Act. The following points are a guide to follow regarding elections:
- Board members and school employees may engage in campaign activities which support candidates on their own time as long as district funds are not used.
- A district may not give or loan paper, pencils, duplicating equipment, printing supplies and sundry items to a campaign committee or candidate.
- Leasing school facilities, including office space or phones, to a community group supporting candidates for the purpose of contacting voters is prohibited.
- The teacher's lounge, school bulletin boards, and other areas within a district building may not be used to disseminate literature supporting a candidate even if printed by an outside organization.
- A school district may not use public resources to create and maintain Internet links to Web sites, organizations, commentary or editorials that expressly support a candidate if the district does so for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the election.
- School buildings may be used for presentations supporting a candidate after school hours pursuant to board policy. Care should be taken to ensure that facilities are equally available to proponents of each candidate. If required by board policy, fees shall be administered consistently.
- A school official is prohibited form sending a mass email or mailing that expressly advocates for a candidate.
- A school district may produce or disseminate debates, interviews or commentary regarding an election if it's done in the regular course of broadcasting or publications (e.g., the normal, routine publication schedule of the broadcast or publication).
- Unions and associations may communicate with their members about elections by using school mailboxes provided that such communications are sent only to the collective bargaining representatives' members.
