Employee Message From

Compliance & Ethics Department

October 5, 2021

Please post in a central location for those who do not have access to email

As election season approaches, this message serves to remind employees of the restrictions on political activities.  All NJ TRANSIT employees are prohibited from certain types of political activities.  More specifically, employees may NOT:

• Engage in political activity during work time
• Use NJ TRANSIT resources, materials, funds or assets for political activity
• Post or display political materials in NJ TRANSIT offices or facilities
• Post or display political material or messages on NJ TRANSIT computer home screens, digital computer backgrounds, or physically in the background during business meetings or video conferences
• Wear clothing, buttons or other apparel displaying political materials in NJ TRANSIT offices or facilities
• Distribute campaign brochures or other materials in NJ TRANSIT offices
• Copy political materials on NJ TRANSIT copy machines
• Display political bumper stickers on NJ TRANSIT vehicles
• Use photographs taken in NJ TRANSIT offices or facilities for political brochures or advertising
• Use NJ TRANSIT e-mail for sending political messages, supporting political candidates or advertising or encouraging attendance at political rallies, fundraisers or meetings
• Use the authority or the influence of his/her position to control or modify the political action of another person
• Serve as a campaign treasurer or in any other campaign position that requires filing reports with or representation before a State agency

In addition, employees whose principal employment and job duties are in connection with an activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or a Federal agency are subject to the provisions of the Hatch Act.  These employees may NOT run for public office in a partisan election or seek election or reelection to a partisan political office.  Nor may they ask subordinates to make political contributions or volunteer for any partisan political campaign, political party, etc.

NJ TRANSIT employees may engage in certain political activities in their personal capacity, but not their official capacity.  (This means you should not identify your official title or your affiliation with NJ TRANSIT when engaging in any of these activities.)  During personal time, employees MAY:

·         Assist in voter registration drives

·         Express opinions about candidates and issues

·         Contribute money to political organizations

·         Attend political fundraising functions

·         Attend and be active at political rallies and meetings

·         Sign and circulate nominating petitions

·         Campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments and/or municipal ordinances

·         Campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections

·         Make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections

·         Distribute campaign literature in partisan elections

·         Campaign for and hold office in political clubs or parties

·         Volunteer to work on a partisan political campaign

·         Participate in any activity not specifically prohibited by law or regulation

·         Join and be active members of a political party or club with the written approval of the Ethics Department

·         Be a candidate in a non-partisan election with the written approval of the Ethics Department

Additionally, so long as you are not in a federally-funded position covered by the Hatch Act, you may run for office in a partisan election with the written approval of the Ethics Department.

If you have any questions, please contact the Ethics Department at: 

Toll-Free Hotline:        (833) 749-3782

eFax:                           (973) 863-4641

Email:                          Ethics_Dept@njtransit.com

Mail:                            Compliance & Ethics Department

One Penn Plaza East, 8th floor

Newark, New Jersey 07105