Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-05
Federal Employees
Briefed on DC. Vote
Hatch Act Bar
Detailed for
Muy ] Primary
BY JOHN v. HORNER

Federal and District Govern
ment employees may register and
vote in the local primary elec-
tons on May /. but they are
prohibited by the Hatch Act
from engaging in partisan polit-
ical activities.
The law governing these en-
ployes was outlined yesterday in
a statement issued by the Board
Of Elections.
All such employees. Of course
must meet the eligibility require
ments Of the new District cleo
ton law. In general. this means
they must be at least Fl years
o. age. citizens of the United
States and residents Of the Dis
trict.
Must Be NOnpartisan
Persons working for the gov
ernments may participate in the
campaign to get other citizens
to register and to vote. so long
as they are nonpartisan in the
activity.
They cannot work directly for
a political party or specifically
for party candidates.
They cannot circulate petit
tons nominating candidates,
though they may sign such pc
titions. Nor can they canvass for
the signatures of others.
Government employees may
openly express political opinions,
party afiiliation and preference
for candidates, provided they do
not take active part in political
management or in a political
campaign.
Other Activities Barred
Other activities are prohibited
by the Hatch Act. For example,
g.. Government workers cannot So
1icit votes, serve as party check
ers or poll watchers.
They cannot speak at public
meetings on behalf Of parties or
candidates, although on a non-
partisan basis they may encour-
age registration and voting. even
to the point Of speaking publicly
in the interest OF the election as
Q whole.
Your activities" said the
Elections Board, must be based
on your belief that every citizen
should take part in the election
without regard to his party
affiliation or the candidate for
whom he may vote
Provisions Of the Hatch Act
do not apply to persons who have
retired from active employment
Of the Federal or District gov
ernments.
Party Elections May /
On May /, the Democratic and
Republican parties here will con-
duct separate elections to choose
local political committees. one
woman and one man to repre-
sent the District on the respec-
tive National political commit
tees, and states of delegates to
the National political conven-
tons of 1856.
This is the first time in more
than 80 years that Washing
tonians have had a right to legal
voting.
In order to participate, resi-
dents must register before April
IS. They must sign up either as
a Democrat. as a Republican or
as a member of some other bona
fide party. They may not regis
ter as independents. since the
purpose of the election is to help
political parties organize them
selves.
Registration Slow
To date, registration has been
very slow. Civic leaders are APP
pealing to all eligible citizens to
sign up as soon as possible.
A permanent registration head
quarters is open in the District
Building. Anyone who is quail
fed may go there and sign up on
any working day.
Later on-in March or April
neighborhood registration booths
will be set up at "a locations
throughout the city. On four
days next month and two days
in April. efforts will be made to
boost the number of registrants
at these booths.
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