| WHO CAN..? | CHAPTERS? | PA NOW PAC, NOW/PAC or NOW Equality PAC? | INDIVIDUALS? |
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Legally make contributions or spend money for state or federal candidates |
No, chapters cannot make contributions to any candidate regardless of the office they are seeking (see below) |
PA NOW PAC can make contributions to state candidates; NOW/PAC can make contributions to federal candidates; and NOW Equality PAC can make contributions to state candidates but not in Pennsylvania because of campaign laws |
Yes, individuals can make contributions to candidates, but NOW members should see below |
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Legally make contributions to PACs (Political Action Committees) |
No, chapters cannot contribute to PACs in Pennsylvania
- only individuals can
HOWEVER, Chapters can make contributions to NOW Equality PAC for state races outside PA, or to PA NOW, Inc. or NOW Inc. for administrative costs associated with running the PACs |
Yes, PA NOW PAC can contribute to other PACs, but not to Federal PACs. PA NOW PAC can contribute to NOW Equality PAC for races outside of Pennsylvania |
Yes, individuals can contribute to any PAC they wish; however, NOW members are encouraged to make contributions to PA NOW PAC for state or NOW/PAC for federal candidates or NOW Equality PAC for other State races |
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Distribute candidates literature or do a mailing for a candidate to the general public |
No, chapters cannot distribute literature or do a mailing
for any candidate as part of the chapter
INDIVIDUALS can volunteer to do anything, including distribute literature and work at polls |
Yes for state candidates if PA NOW PAC is reporting mailing as a contribution to campaign; NO for federal candidates. NOW cannot mail candidates literature to the general public or to its members for federal elections (see below) |
Yes, individuals can distribute candidate information or do a personal mailing to their friends as long as they list on the literature they are copying that "This mailing was paid for by (individual's name)" |
| Create campaign literature for distribution to members only | No, chapters cannot create literature for any candidate or do anything that is seen as influencing an election (see individuals. They can if they pay for it.) | Yes, if endorsed by PA NOW PAC or NOW/PAC for mailing to members only | Individuals can create literature and distribute to their friends at their personal expense (cannot have access to NOW membership lists) |
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Give candidates the membership list or labels |
No, cannot provide mailing list or labels to anyone |
Yes, PACs can provide list/labels to endorsed candidates as in-kind contribution to campaign valued at $75/1,000 | N/A (unless you are giving friends and neighbors names and addresses that are personal friends) |
| Sell membership list/labels to candidates | No, cannot provide list for any reason | Yes, can sell mailing list to endorsed candidates at going rate ($75/1,000) | N/A |
| Endorse candidates without giving money | No, chapters cannot endorse (see next section) | Yes, PA NOW PAC can endorse state candidates; NOW/PAC endorses federal candidates | Individuals can support or endorse if they choose |
| Interview and recommend candidates for endorsement | YES, chapters are encouraged to interview candidates using a questionnaire as guidelines and pass on any recommendations to PA NOW PAC | PA NOW PAC accepts recommendations for endorsement from chapters; NOW/PAC accepts recommendations from states and chapters | N/A |
| Organize Volunteers for candidates campaigns | YES, CURRENT MEMBERS ONLY.
(See phone banking below) |
Yes, if endorsed by one of the PACs. Current members only. | Yes |
| Reimbursement for expenses involved in a Campaign | No expense reimbursements for individual members involved in any campaign | No, unless expenses are listed as contribution to state candidates from PA NOW PAC; Not permitted in federal elections. | No, unless the campaign itself reimburses individual |
| Fund raise for candidates (hold house parties, etc.) | No, chapters cannot directly do anything to influence an election including fundraising for a candidate | Yes, can do fundraising with funds coming back to PAC for distribution to candidates. Funds should NOT go directly to candidates campaign | Yes, individuals can organize fundraisers for candidates, such as house parties, receptions, and can invite members and nonmembers |
| Use Bulk Permit for Candidates Mailing | No | No, cannot use for any specific campaign. Can only be used for mailing PAC information | N/A |
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Include News Stories in Newsletters |
YES -- chapters can include stories on PAC endorsements and campaign activities - Can also sell ads to political campaigns. BUT CHAPTERS CANNOT URGE SUPPORT OR VOTES FOR CANDIDATES IN NEWSLETTERS | Yes, can include stories of PAC endorsements in newsletters, and PAC can place ads or campaigns can place ads in PAC newsletters | N/A |
| Phone Bank current NOW members to solicit volunteers, funds or votes for a candidate | YES - provided the chapter uses the most current list of chapter members and confirms the person called is a member. Must be volunteers with no paid staff involved. |
Yes, same as chapters, or PAC can make a contribution to candidates campaign |
Individuals cannot have access to NOW membership lists |
| Phone Bank general public urging support and contributions for candidate | YES -- ONLY IF (i) volunteers make calls, (ii) the chapter has not paid for the list, (iii) the chapter has been paid fair value for lists, phones, office space, and other resources used on behalf of campaign | Yes, same as chapters, or PAC can make a contribution to candidates campaign. | If individual chooses |
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