DoD Employees, Servicemembers Need to Heed Hatch Act Rules
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2004 -- As the election season swings into high gear, the Office of Special Counsel has filed complaints against two federal employees deemed in violation of the Hatch Act.
The complaints address the use of "politically partisan electronic mail messages while on duty," according to a statement released by the OSC.
The Hatch Act regulates DoD employees' and servicemembers' participation in politics. The recent violations focus on e-mails sent to about 15 recipients in one case and more than 70 in the other.
"The use of Internet and electronic mail is second-nature to almost everyone and has become a favorite and effective campaign tool, even more so perhaps than four years ago," Special Counsel Scott Bloch said in the statement. "I want to remind federal employees to be vigilant about following the Hatch Act, because we will consider this activity a form of electronic leafleting and thus a violation of the prohibition on partisan political activity in the workplace."
Partisan political activity is defined as activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party or candidate for a partisan political office or partisan political group.
Participation in politics is not completely forbidden. However, active-duty military and executive-branch employees need to be aware of the rights and restrictions that the Hatch Act imposes on such activity. What is allowed and disallowed can be a bit confusing.
Of DoD employees, those in uniform are under the most restrictions. They may attend political meetings or rallies, but only as spectators and not in uniform. They are not allowed to give political speeches, serve in any official capacity in partisan groups or participate in political campaigns or conventions.
They are also not generally allowed to campaign for political office.
In its essence, the Hatch Act prohibits federal executive-branch employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or wearing an official uniform, the statement said.
Related Sites:
Hatch Act for Federal Employees
DoD Directive on Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces
Political Do's and Don'ts Under the Hatch Act
Rules Restrict Political Activity for DoD People
The complaints address the use of "politically partisan electronic mail messages while on duty," according to a statement released by the OSC.
I receive a lot of Emails from service people and government employees who send every pro-Bush, anti-Hanoi John article or cartoon they find – and they all seem to have the .army.mil addresses.
Yup. The good ole Hatch act. You cannot say a damned thing about who you want to be CIC or who to vote for and this is the person that can send you to war where you can lose your life, yet you cannot say a damned thing. Right. Only in Amerika. Freedom my @$$.
The following statement on this website where 76,000 Vets have signed up for Bush:
www.Vets4Bush.com
Hatch Act: Allows Military to have Political Bumper Stickers on personal vehicles.