With early voting in the home stretch and Election Day just around the corner, many are pulling out all the stops to make sure everyone gets out to vote so their preferred candidates prevail at the polls. With that in mind, it’s a good time for a quick reminder of what educators can and can’t do during an election.  

The No. 1 thing most classroom educators can’t legally do when communicating during an election is to expend public funds to support or oppose a specific candidate, party, or ballot measure. But what does that mean? There are specific legal nuances, but the bottom line is, don’t use school resources, whether it’s the school email system, copy paper, or your time at school to advocate for a specific candidate.  

Be smart, be professional, be mindful not to use public resources—but using your own time and resources, tell everyone you know they need to vote pro-public education. 

For more on the dos and don’ts (especially for district and campus administrators), please visit this helpful guide at Texas Educators Vote. 

The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney.