Of course, all bona fide candidates must be invited, and it would be best to invite them simultaneously and to use identical language in the invitations. It is not necessary that they all attend as long as all are invited. As for distributing copies of candidates' speeches or other remarks, the IRS position is that if you regularly publish a newsletter and limit its circulation generally to your own members, you may report candidates' statements as news items. All candidates must be given equal opportunity to appear, those who do must be given equal coverage, and the news stories must be presented without editorial comment. Make it plain that the views being reported are those of the candidates and that all candidates for the given office were afforded the same opportunity to participate in the forum.
Some organizations give, sell, trade, or lend lists of their members to others.
If your organization wishes to make its membership list available to candidates, there is no objection to its doing so, provided of course that all candidates are made aware of the opportunity and are given the same access. However, two other considerations enter the picture. A Guide for Volunteers and Staff of Nonprofit Organizations. The foregoing analysis is a simplified explanation of a highly complex subject. It is in no way intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.