§ 21.11-1107. Prohibition of Political Activity.

 No employee of the Township or any employee of any of its citizens’ groups shall serve as an elected or appointed official of a political party, nor shall he solicit funds on behalf of a political party or a candidate for public office, nor shall he on election day be within one hundred yards of a polling place except for the purpose of voting or on official business, nor shall he engage in political activity related to the election of officials of the Township or of its school board; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to any such employee when he is running for nomination or election to any elective office other than office in a political party. This section shall not apply to any elected Township official.

   Commentary: : The prohibition of political activity is a limited one designed to eliminate such participation only in situations where it could conceivably compromise the proper governmental operations of the Township or present the appearance of so doing. It is the GSC’s understanding that with few, if any, exceptions the rules here incorporated are followed currently in practice; the purpose of this provision is to require the continuation of this current practice.

   Township employees remain free to engage in political activities in county, state, or national elections where the officials elected will not directly supervise the Township employees, but they cannot work at the polls or solicit funds in these or any other elections. They also remain free to contribute to political parties or candidates, although in accordance with state law they cannot be compelled to do so. They also are free to attend meetings or rallies of a political nature provided they do not become actually involved in the campaigns of candidates for Township office or for the school board.

   Hopefully the limited prohibitions set forth strike the proper balance between a concern for politically unbiased government and the desire for maximum political participation of all members of the community, including those who may be government employees.

   This section cited in 346 Pa. Code §  21.7-701 (relating to functions, appointments, qualifications and compensation); 346 Pa. Code §  21.8-803 commentary (relating to duties); and 346 Pa. Code §  21.13-1303 and commentary (relating to operation).