Campaign on Government Property
Running a political campaign is a challenging endeavor on many different levels. With the ultimate objective of persuading people to cast ballots in your favor, you need to take advantage of all opportunities to connect with voters. Toward this goal you need to better understand where and when you legally can make your campaign pitch. For example, you must recognize the parameters associated with campaigning on government property.
Instructions
1. Contact the state headquarters of the political party of which you or your candidate is a member. The Republican and Democratic parties maintains headquarters in each state in the country. So-called "third parties" typically do not maintain full-time headquarters. However, these other parties typically do have a state chair responsible for directing activists and candidates to appropriate informational resources.
2. Inquire as to what official guidelines the party staff prepared pertaining to limitations on campaigning on government or public property. Most state parties develop compilations of the law pertaining to permissible campaigning on public property.
3. Review the significant limitations of campaigning on federal government property. Generally speaking, political campaigning on federal government property is always prohibited. This includes everything from federal office buildings to federal parks and preserves to all other types of federal facilities.
4. Consider the campaign possibilities that may exist on state-owned property in your state. Although there are restrictions on campaigning on state government property, the limitations are not as profound as what exists on the federal level.
5. Obtain a permit to conduct a campaign event on specific types of state property on which this type of activity is permitted. An example of where on state government land a campaign rally or event potentially can be held are the grounds of the state capital. For example, presidential candidates oftentimes hold election night rallies and similar events throughout the campaign on the grounds of various state capitols. Advance permission is required, typically in the form of a permit from the office of the state capitol architect.
6. Consider the permissibility of campaigning on county or city government property. These units of government typically permit a wider array of political activities at different city or county owned locations. For example, rallies are permissible in municipal and county parks. Campaign events oftentimes are conducted on the steps of city hall or the county courthouse. As is the case with state government property, an appropriate permit needs to be obtained in advance from a particular government agency. For example, if a campaign rally is to be held in a park, the city or county parks and recreation department needs to be contacted. If the campaign event is to include a march down a public street, a parade permit is required, normally from the local police department.
Tags: government property, state government, campaign event, Campaign Government, Campaign Government Property, campaign rally, campaigning federal