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5 U.S.C. 1503: Nonpartisan candidacies permittedText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 5-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEESCHAPTER 15-POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF CERTAIN STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES

§1503. Nonpartisan candidacies permitted

Section 1502(a)(3) of this title does not prohibit any State or local officer or employee from being a candidate in any election if none of the candidates is to be nominated or elected at such election as representing a party any of whose candidates for Presidential elector received votes in the last preceding election at which Presidential electors were selected.

( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 404 ; Pub. L. 93–443, title IV, § 401(b)(1) , Oct. 15, 1974 , 88 Stat. 1290 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation

U.S. Code

Revised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

 

5 U.S.C. 118n (as applicable to 5 U.S.C. 118k(a)).

July 19, 1940, ch. 640, § 4 “Sec. 18 (as applicable to § 12 of the Act of Aug. 2, 1939; added July 19, 1940, ch. 640, § 4, 54 Stat. 767)”, 54 Stat. 772.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1974⁠—Pub. L. 93–443 substituted “candidacies” for “political activity” in section catchline and provision permitting nonpartisan candidacies for prior provision permitting political activity in connection with (1) an election and the preceding campaign if none of the candidates was to be nominated or elected at that election as representing a party any of whose candidates for presidential elector received votes in the last preceding election at which presidential electors were selected, or (2) a question which was not specifically identified with a National or State political party and deeming questions relating to constitutional amendments, referendums, approval of municipal ordinances, and others of a similar character as not specifically identified with a National or State political party.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–443 effective Jan. 1, 1975, see section 410(a) of Pub. L. 93–443, set out as a note under section 30101 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.