5 CFR § 151.121 - Use of official authority; coercion; candidacy; prohibitions.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s151.121"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 151.121 - Use of official authority; coercion; candidacy; prohibitions."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "151.121"
section_name: "Use of official authority; coercion; candidacy; prohibitions."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "151"
part_name: "POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF STATE OR LOCAL OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 1302, 1501-1508, as amended, Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978, section 102, 92 Stat. 3783, 3 CFR 1978 Comp. p. 323; and E.O. 12107, section 1-102, 3 CFR 1978 Comp. p. 264."
regulatory_source: "35 FR 16783, Oct. 30, 1970, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "151"
---
# 151.121 Use of official authority; coercion; candidacy; prohibitions.
A State or local officer or employee may not—
(a) Use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office; or
(b) Directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or advise a State or local officer or employee to pay, lend, or contribute anything of value to a political party, committee, organization, agency, or person for a political purpose.
(c) Be a candidate for elective office if the salary of the employee is paid completely, directly or indirectly, by loans or grants made by the United States or a Federal agency.
[40 FR 42733, Sept. 16, 1975, as amended at 79 FR 25484, May 5, 2014]