Political Activities Notice

University of Oregon employees are considered public employees and political activity is governed by established statutes and policy.

Required Notification

Oregon law prohibits the use of public funds, equipment, and supplies to advocate for or against a ballot measure or candidate and restricts what public employees (which include University of Oregon employees) may do in support of or opposition to a ballot measure or candidate.

ORS 260.432 (3) requires employees to receive the following notification:

ATTENTION ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES:

The restrictions imposed by the law of the State of Oregon on your political activities are that “No public employee shall solicit any money, influence, service or other thing of value or otherwise promote or oppose any political committee or promote or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate, the gathering of signatures on an initiative, referendum or recall petition, the adoption of a measure or the recall of a public office holder while on the job during working hours. However, this section does not restrict the right of a public employee to express personal political views.”

It is, therefore, the policy of the state and of your public employer that you may engage in political activity except to the extent prohibited by state law when on the job during working hours.

The University of Oregon's policy on political activities is available for review in the policy library:

Policy Number V.11.01--Political Activities