Is it permissible for churches and 501(c)(3) organizations to distribute Christian Voters guides?
Churches and other exempt organizations under IRS 501(c)(3) regulations are permitted to engage in non-partisan voter education and registration activities. They may publish news stories about campaigns and candidates. They may also publish or distribute voters’ guides in an attempt to educate their members, provided the voters’ guides are nonpartisan under regulations established by the IRS. Generally, this requires that the voters’ guides not directly or indirectly endorse or oppose any particular candidates. Churches and organizations are advised to consult an attorney before distributing any particular voters’ guide, because this is now an area receiving high scrutiny by the IRS, which has threatened to revoke the tax exempt status of some churches and 501(c)(3) organizations for distributing voters’ guides it has determined to be partisan.
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