527c - Legal Question

[iamjoy]

I was volunteering with the Kerry campaign tonite and there was a woman there active in our DEC. Anyway, I was telling her I was also planning on volunteering with League of Conservation Voters for the Environmental Victory Project.

Anyway, she said I couldn't volunteer with both the campaign and a 527c because it violates campaign finance laws (I guess that the organizations can't coordinate activities with the campaigns). Is this true? It didn't occur to me later to stress that I'm not paid or sharing information. Is it really illegal (I think she said it was punishable by prison) or is one of those things that could create headaches for the campaign?

[Beatrix]

1. Well I know...

that if you sign a petition for a dem candidate to be on the ballot you can not vote in any primary except for the dem primary.

I'm not so sure about volunteering though... She said finance laws? I know there are donation restrictions. Never really heard of this though.

Best course of action is to consult an attorney.

[Dookus]

2. makes sense to me

the 527's MUST be independent of the campaigns. Whether the law specifically prohibits it or not, it's common sense to avoid even the appearance of co-ordination.

[MaineDem]

3. There can't be any official coordination of efforts

The state Democratic party can't coordinate with ACT, for example, on voter registrations. I don't think there's any violation if individual Democrats work on both efforts. But I am not a lawyer.