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ETHICS ADVISORY ON
USE OF CITY PROPERTY DURING POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
The City’s Code of Ethics bans the use of public property for private advantage. To assist elected officials, employees, and candidates for municipal office, the Board has established the following guidelines that apply to use of city property during campaigns:
City website
- No city official or employee may use the City of Atlanta’s website to solicit campaign contributions, seek volunteers, advertise a campaign, or provide a link to any campaign website
- Candidates may place a link at their campaign website to the City’s website
City e-mail addresses
- No official, candidate, or employee should use the city’s email directory and city email addresses to solicit political support
- Neighborhood planning unit membership lists should be used solely for NPU and official city business
- City elected officials may not use their city email addresses to electronically file campaign contribution disclosure reports
City facilities
- A candidate may use a city facility during a campaign if the property is a public forum open to all members of the general public, such as the City Hall steps, sidewalks, or public parks
- Campaign events in public parks are subject to the same rules as any other event in a park and may require an application or fee depending on the size of the events and the use of a stage, tent, amplication, pavilion, or ballfield
- City buildings may be used for political forums when the forum is open to all candidates in a specific race and the general public is invited to attend the event
- City officials and employees may not campaign, distribute, or post political campaign literature in a city building or on a city vehicle
City equipment, vehicles, and staff
- City officials and employees may not use city computers, telephones, copiers, or staff to promote a candidacy of any individual running for elective office
- City employees may not endorse candidates, participate in political advertisements, or engage in political activity while on city time, wearing an official uniform, or using a city vehicle
- A city employee who receives inquiries about a candidate for municipal office may refer the caller or correspondent to the candidate’s campaign committee or campaign office
City funds
- City funds may not be used for campaign purposes
- A Council member may not hand out a city-funded newsletter during a campaign event or while soliciting votes after filing as a candidate for municipal office
- A Council member may not use photographs paid for by city funds in campaign literature unless the photographs are available for use by any member of the public
- A Council member cannot use city funds to pay for email services and mailings for political campaign purposes
Disclaimer: This advisory is limited to sections 2-801 to 2-824 in the City’s Code of Ethics and does not cover any laws or regulations based on state law or other parts of Atlanta’s Code of Ordinances.
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