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Legal counsel tells Lansing Charter Commission public funds may not be used to advocate ballot votes
Summary
At its June 24 meeting, legal counsel gave the Lansing Charter Commission an overview of the Campaign Finance Act, advising that the commission may use public resources only for neutral, factual information and that individual commissioners retain First Amendment rights but cannot use government property for campaigning.
Lansing Charter Commission legal counsel Kristin told commissioners June 24 that the Michigan Campaign Finance Act bars public bodies from using government funds or property to ‘‘expressly advocate’’ for or against a ballot question.
The guidance explained what the commission may do and may not do as it prepares charter language for the November ballot, and why neutral wording and legal review of any information distributed by the commission are important.
Kristin said an ‘‘express advocacy’’ prohibition in the statute prevents a public body from using municipal resources for materials or statements that include statutory advocacy phrases such as ‘‘vote for’’ or ‘‘vote against,’’ and that the provision is broadly construed to include money, goods, services,…
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