Nonpartisan Civic Engagement Policy

Purpose

This policy establishes clear, enforceable rules that allow People Pfirst to participate in City-sponsored and community events as a nonpartisan civic presence while maintaining strict separation from the Organization's PAC electoral activity.

Authority and Scope

This policy governs People Pfirst's non-electoral, nonpartisan civic work (the Civic Engagement Program). It applies to all members, officers, volunteers, and guests when representing the Civic Engagement Program at any civic event.

This policy is adopted under the Organization's bylaws and charter provisions, which authorize non-electoral civic programming and require separation between civic activity and PAC electoral activity. Violations may result in corrective or disciplinary action under the bylaws and the Code of Conduct.

Definitions

Civic event: A City-sponsored or community event, venue, or program that restricts partisan political activity and permits nonpartisan civic participation (for example voter registration tables).

Civic education: Nonpartisan education about election processes, how local government works, and how to participate, including meeting participation, public comment, and where to find agendas.

Issue information: Factual, source-based information about local issues, policy proposals, and ballot propositions, presented without endorsing or opposing candidates or parties and without persuasion messaging.

Candidate campaigning: Any activity intended to influence the election of a candidate, including endorsements; vote-for or vote-against guidance; distributing candidate literature; candidate recruitment for a specific race; or coordinating canvassing or GOTV for a candidate.

Fundraising: Soliciting or collecting money or in-kind contributions for the PAC, any candidate, a political party, or any political committee at a civic event.

Two-hat rule: Anyone staffing a civic event in the Civic Engagement role may not engage in PAC electioneering or partisan activity at that event.

Program Identity, Disclaimers, and Materials Control

The Civic Engagement Program operates publicly as People Pfirst Civic Engagement (or another name approved by the Steering Committee).

All signage, handouts, and volunteer scripts used at civic events must include the following statement (or a substantially similar statement approved by the Steering Committee):

Nonpartisan voter registration and civic education. We provide factual information on elections and issues. No candidate campaigning or fundraising.

Materials control

Only Steering Committee-approved civic materials may be used at civic events. The Civic Engagement Lead maintains an approved materials folder and provides it to volunteers before each event. Any new handout must cite sources and must be approved before use.

Neutrality Standard

At civic events, the Civic Engagement Program provides voter registration, civic education, and information on issues. The standard is factual, source-based, and nonpersuasive. Volunteers must not use the civic platform to argue for or against candidates, parties, or campaigns, or to direct attendees toward electoral outcomes.

If a venue or organizer prohibits discussion of issues entirely, the program will limit its activities to voter registration and information on the election process only.

Allowed Activities

• Voter registration and voter assistance consistent with applicable law (forms, deadlines, how to register).
• Nonpartisan election information: how to vote, key dates, where to find official election resources, and explanations of voting methods, registration verification, sample ballot lookup, and printing.
• Issue information that is factual and source-based, including neutral explanations of ballot propositions and policy proposals, without persuasion messaging.
• Civic participation invitations: how to attend city meetings, how to sign up for public comment, how to follow agendas, how to apply for appointed boards and commissions, and how to contact officials.
• Community listening and needs collection (surveys, feedback collection) without partisan messaging or candidate promotion.

Prohibited Activities

• Candidate campaigning, including endorsements, vote-for or vote-against guidance, distributing candidate campaign materials, or encouraging votes for or against any candidate or party.
• Fundraising for PACs, candidates, parties, or political committees at civic events, including collecting donations and soliciting contributions for any political purpose.
• Distributing People Pfirst endorsement lists, candidate scorecards, campaign literature, or PAC fundraising materials at civic events.
• Coordinated campaign activity under the civic brand: canvassing, persuasion scripts, GOTV targeting, or candidate recruitment for a specific race.
• Partisan recruitment or persuasion while present in the civic role. Volunteers may invite attendees to opt in to separate communications later, but may not pitch endorsements or party politics at the table.

Separation Controls

Separate budgets and accounts. Civic program expenses are tracked separately from PAC electoral expenses. If a separate non-electoral entity exists, it uses separate accounts and bookkeeping.

Separate materials. Civic signage, handouts, and scripts are distinct from PAC materials and must include the required disclaimer.

Two-hat rule. Volunteers staffing civic events under the Civic Engagement Program may not engage in PAC electioneering at those events.

Data separation and consent. Contacts collected at civic events are tagged civic source and may be used only for civic follow-up unless the person separately opts in to receive electoral or PAC communications. Opt-in must be affirmative and recorded.

Access controls. Only designated civic program administrators may export or share contact lists from civic events. Access is removed promptly when roles change.

Volunteer Training and Standard Script

All volunteers staffing civic events must complete a short training on this policy and use the approved opening script.

Minimum opening script:

Hi, we're People Pfirst Civic Engagement. We're here for nonpartisan voter registration and civic education. We provide factual information about local elections and issues, as well as how to participate. We do not do candidate campaigning or fundraising at this table.

Governance, Approvals, and Incident Response

Program lead. The Steering Committee appoints a Civic Engagement Lead responsible for event requests, volunteer training, and compliance with this policy.

Event approval. The Civic Engagement Lead may approve routine civic events. Any event likely to create public controversy or confusion with PAC activity must be approved by the Steering Committee.

Incident authority. The Civic Engagement Lead (or designated event lead) may direct volunteers to stop an activity that violates this policy and may remove a volunteer from staffing if needed.

Reporting. Suspected violations are documented and reported to the Steering Committee within 48 hours. Corrective action may include retraining, removal from civic event staffing, or discipline under the bylaws and Code.

Venue compliance. Volunteers will follow the venue's published rules. If venue rules conflict with this policy, the stricter rule governs for that event.

City Event Participation Packet

For City-sponsored or officially nonpartisan events, submit a one-page packet including: a program description (nonpartisan voter registration and civic education; factual issue information); the required disclaimer line; a one-page allowed or prohibited activities summary; and a point of contact and incident escalation process.

Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed at least annually. Non-material updates may be made by the Governance Committee and published promptly. Material changes require Steering Committee approval and notice to members at least fourteen (14) days before taking effect. Material changes include changes to allowed or prohibited activities, disclaimers, data use rules, or governance.