We are entering a very busy election year with several important elections happening in November 2024. Within the counties covered by 16th Distrcit PTA (Marin, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra and Modoc) registered voters will have the opportunity to vote on elected offices at all levels of government, and to directly impact state and local policies by voting on state ballot propositios and local measures. Individual school districts may have local bond measures and parcel tax measures on the ballot. This November there will be a number of local seats up for election, including many school district board positions.
To see information about local elections visit: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections
PTAs/PTSAs can absolutely support and encourage people to register to vote and even host voter registration events!! Sixteenth District PTA is happy to give you more information and even support these events at your school sites!
Elections and Candidate Endorsement Rules:
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PTA/PTSA, as a tax exempt organization, cannot support or oppose political parties or candidates. This includes nonpartisan offices such as school board or city council elections. Participation in these activities places the association's nonprofit status with the IRS at risk. To retain good IRS tax-exempt status and continue to receive tax-deductible contributions, a PTA may not participate in any type of political campaign or other activity on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for any public office.
A PTA/PTSA board member, past or present, may not use the PTA/PTSA title, name of the PTA/PTSA or PTA/PTSA trademark to endorse a candidate in any manner (electronic, written, letters, websites). If a PTA/PTSA leader chooses to support a candidate, judgment should be exercised on whether privately endorsing a candidate (without using a PTA/PTSA title) could negatively affect a future relationship with an elected official should a different candidate win.
Individual candidates cannot be invited to address PTA/PTSA meetings, even if they are PTA/PTSA members, unless all other candidates are invited (Sixteenth District PTA will provide support to any council or unit that wishes to hold a candidate forum). This avoids the reality or appearance of bias or support of an individual candidate. PTA/PTSA members are not prohibited from running for public office themselves nor from listing PTA/PTSA involvement as part of their biographical information and/or campaign literature. A PTA/PTSA member who is running for office may perform his or her regular PTA/PTSA duties. PTA/PTSA and campaign activities must be kept separate. This includes any announcement around candidacy before, after or during PTA/PTSA meetings or events.
Support and Opposition to Issues:
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PTA/PTSA leaders are often the individuals with the most knowledge and awareness of their communities’ needs. Their community engagement and activities may qualify them to take leadership roles in election campaigns. PTA/PTSAs may adopt a position expressing support for, or opposition to, issues dealing with the health, safety, education, or general well-being of children and youth, but only to the extent permissible with respect to the requirements of each PTA/PTSA's tax-exempt status.
One of the Purposes of the PTA/PTSA is “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.” By educating its members and the general public on issues affecting children and youth, PTA/PTSAs can influence the course of action of those who make policy decisions, thereby achieving the Purposes of the PTA/PTSA. PTA/PTSA units, councils and districts may be involved in legislative activities. By supporting or opposing local issues that affect children or services to children in their respective communities based upon a study of the issue and a vote of the association; and by supporting California State PTA positions on legislation needed to achieve the Purposes of the PTA.
School Bonds and Other Ballot Measure Campaigns:
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PTA/PTSAs may help secure the passage of a local school district facilities bond or local parcel tax election, or participate in campaigns to pass or defeat other ballot measures. Unit, council and district PTA/PTSAs may participate in these efforts when the board and/or membership has studied the issue and voted to support such a campaign.
To summarize, for PTA/PTSAs to retain tax-exempt status and continue to receive tax-deductible contributions, under Internal Revenue Code they may not (1) devote more than an insubstantial part of their activities to influence legislation; (2) participate in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for national, state, or local public office. Nothing in the law or in PTA/PTSA bylaws prohibits members as individuals from exercising their civic responsibilities in personal and partisan ways, including running for office. You are encouraged to exercise your rights as a private citizen and a member of your community.
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RESOURCES:
Need to find your Congressional District: https://www.census.gov/mycd/
California Secretary of State's Voter Guide: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/
You can also search for voting informaton by Googling your local county's registrar of voters.