5 tips for surviving election season as a socialgov

Contributed blog by Angie Ramirez, Freelance Writer at Government Social Media®

Managing government social media accounts can be a challenge on any given day, but election season can bring an entirely different level of chaos. 

With political memes, heated debates, and comment wars taking over, it's essential for government social media managers to be prepared. As we approach Election Day, here’s how to stay neutral, professional, and sane while navigating this politically charged time.

Please note! I'm not an attorney and this is not legal advice - please consult your legal counsel on this topic as well.

1. Keep personal politics out of official communications

As a government representative, your personal political beliefs must never influence the communications you make on behalf of your agency. During election season, even a simple “like” on a post can be seen as a sign of bias. It's important to leave personal opinions behind when interacting in any official capacity.

Most government agencies are expected to remain apolitical (this may not be the case for elected officials), so be mindful of how your actions are perceived. Ensure you're logged into the correct account if you engage with political content personally. The last thing you want is to accidentally like or comment on a post from your agency’s account.

This caution extends to ballot issues as well. You can share straightforward, factual information, but make sure your communications and legal team vets all communications to avoid electioneering (more on this next).

Do: Stay focused on your agency’s mission and provide neutral, factual content.

Don’t: Engage with political content from your government agency’s account. Even a small slip-up can create a perception of bias.

2. Know the laws on electioneering

Electioneering refers to any activity that openly supports or opposes a candidate, political party, or ballot measure during an election. Engaging in electioneering is problematic for government social media managers because government agencies must remain neutral and nonpartisan to maintain public trust and comply with the law. Violating electioneering laws could result in fines and lawsuits for misuse of public funds.

Federal employees must follow the Hatch Act, which prohibits them from engaging in political activities while performing their official duties. State and local agencies often have similar laws in place, especially surrounding local ballot initiatives. If you face a situation where leadership asks you to support certain political efforts on social media, making yourself aware of any local/federal laws can be crucial in ensuring compliance and protecting both yourself and your agency from potential legal issues.

Make sure any statements, especially around ballot measures, are fact-based and neutral, and work closely with your legal team to ensure compliance.

If your agency gets questions about a ballot issue, have pre-approved, neutral responses ready. In some cases, you may refer inquiries to the City Clerk or a voting agency to avoid stepping into electioneering territory.

Do: Keep your content strictly focused on providing nonpartisan, factual information related to your agency's services and responsibilities. Election information like registration deadlines and polling locations can be shared in a neutral, non-partisan manner. Information about specific ballot initiatives should be vetted by your Communications and Legal teams to ensure compliance. 

Don’t: Use your nonpartisan government agency account to post content that encourages a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on a specific ballot measure, endorse a specific candidate, or support a political party.

3. Understand First Amendment boundaries for moderation

Political discourse, even when heated, is protected by the First Amendment. As tempting as it may be to delete or hide political comments, doing so can lead to accusations of censorship, bias, and potential legal battles.

That said, not all comments are protected. Threats, harassment, and obscenity can be moderated, but it's crucial to consult your legal team before removing anything. Review your agency’s social media moderation policy to ensure you're aligned with legal standards.

When political debates erupt in your comment section, resist the urge to referee. In most cases, letting the discussion play out and fizzle on its own is best. If the conversation gets out of hand, you can use a general response such as: “This account is dedicated to providing information about [your agency]. Please refer to our comment policy for guidelines on appropriate discussions. We encourage respectful engagement.”

Avoid turning off comments entirely, as this can stifle meaningful, on-topic discussions (and can be a First Amendment violation). It’s important to ensure you’re still responding to customer service questions, and answering legit questions or statements from your community regardless of their political leanings.​​

Always consult with your agency's attorney on issues related to comment moderation, hiding or removing comments, and blocking and muting users.

Do: Understand the limits of protected speech and have a plan for addressing any comments that cross the line into illegal or harmful territory. Address misinformation in a factual and neutral tone while avoiding electioneering or showing bias.

Don’t: Remove comments based on political content or criticism of your agency. Political speech, even if it’s critical or controversial, is protected, and you need to be mindful of this at all times.

4. Prepare for crisis situations

You never know when your agency will become the focus of national (or international) political discourse.

With election season in full swing, the potential for crisis is higher than usual and even misinformation (or disinformation) can cause serious damage. 

This is why it’s important to develop a crisis management plan specifically for election season. Coordinate with your PR and legal teams to craft neutral responses to politically charged or false information. Always stay measured in your responses—don’t act on impulse.

In true crisis situations, consider pausing regularly scheduled content and carefully craft language to address any misinformation while maintaining neutrality. Show your audience that your agency is aware and listening, even if you choose not to engage directly in the controversy.

Do: Develop a crisis plan. What happens if your agency gets tagged in a viral political post? What if misinformation starts spreading in the comments? Plan for these situations in advance, and coordinate with your PR and legal teams.

Don’t: React emotionally to criticism or controversy. Stay cool. Pause your regular content, and if needed, address misinformation with clear, neutral facts. Your goal is to be aware, not reactive.

5. Take care of your mental health

Managing the daily onslaught of politically charged comments can take a toll. Finding ways to protect your mental health and practice socialgov self-care is essential. Whether it’s stepping away from the screen for a walk, scheduling specific times to check comments, or simply reminding yourself that people are allowed their opinions—even misguided ones. Make self-care a priority and know that election season will eventually come to an end.

Do: Set boundaries. Take regular breaks, go for a walk, or set specific times to check comments instead of reading them all day. It’s important to give yourself a mental break!

Don’t: Let the negativity get to you. People will voice opinions that are different from yours—that’s democracy! Just remember, it’s not personal.

Conclusion

Election season can feel like a never-ending storm of public opinion, but with the right strategies, you can navigate it while maintaining professionalism, protecting your well-being, and upholding community trust. So, hang in there! And keep that neutral, informative, and balanced content coming.

Know that you are not alone. All government social media managers are seeing an uptick in political discourse; it’s part of the being on the frontlines of public sector communications. Just remember to leave your personal political beliefs at home, avoid electioneering or First Amendment pitfalls, and, most importantly, take care of your mental health.

Meet the author

Angela Ramirez (Pitts)

Freelance Writer - Government Social Media LLC

Angela is an award-winning government communicator who is passionate about leveraging social media to build strong relationships between government agencies and the people they serve. During her tenure with the City of Tampa, Angela proudly maintained a dynamic social media presence for the City, telling Tampa’s story through historic events, including the Super Bowl, the COVID-19 pandemic, major hurricanes, and more. She also helped establish a community-centric social media following for the City, growing the @cityoftampa Instagram profile from less than 1k followers to over 100k in under five years.

She has recently moved to the beautiful state of Colorado and now serves as Communications Manger for the City of Lakewood, the 5th largest city in the state. Her passion for government social media continues as she strives to be a thought leader in the field. She takes immense pride in the connections she’s made with social media professionals across the nation.

Angela earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida and is currently completing her master's degree in Digital Strategy from the University of Florida. In her free time, you can find her scrolling Instagram Reels, spending time with her husband and dog, or planning her next big adventure.

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