Can city employees provide any information about ballot measures?
YES – City employees may provide information related to a measure as long as the information is factual, unbiased and appropriate to the usual conduct of city business. Any analysis must be fairly presented to include only factual information, not speculation. Further, the analysis cannot be one-sided, but must provide a balance of information. A public employee presenting impartial information about a ballot measure on their work time or official capacity must follow similar standards for impartiality as outlined for written materials. Courts strictly interpret this restriction. Any information prepared concerning the anticipated effect of a measure should be submitted to the City Attorney’s Office for review before distribution. (ORS 260.432 and City Human Resources Administrative Rule 4.
YES – City employees may provide information related to a measure as long as the information is factual, unbiased and appropriate to the usual conduct of city business. Any analysis must be fairly presented to include only factual information, not speculation. Further, the analysis cannot be one-sided, but must provide a balance of information. A public employee presenting impartial information about a ballot measure on their work time or official capacity must follow similar standards for impartiality as outlined for written materials. Courts strictly interpret this restriction. Any information prepared concerning the anticipated effect of a measure should be submitted to the City Attorney’s Office for review before distribution.
