Do’s and Dont’s For Service Members During Election Season

BETHESDA, MD, UNITED STATES

07.28.2016

Story by Seaman William Phillips 

Naval Support Activity Bethesda

With the political season in full swing, service members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians need to know what they can and can’t do.

“It is DoD policy to encourage members of the Armed Forces to carry out the obligations of citizenship,” said John Epperson, Naval Support Activity Bethesda’s (NSAB) Installation Voting Assistance Officer.

Members of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not:

Participate in partisan political fundraising activities, rallies, conventions, management of campaigns, or debates. The prohibition is broad and does not depend on whether a member is in uniform or even whether an inference of official endorsement can be drawn;
Use official authority or influence to interfere with an election, affect the course or outcome of an election, solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or require or solicit political contributions from others;
Publish partisan political articles or letters that solicit votes for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause. Letters to the editor may be allowed as noted above;
Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.
Serve in official capacity/sponsor a partisan political club;
Conduct a political opinion survey or distribute political literature;
Speak before a partisan political gathering;
Work for a partisan political committee or candidate during a campaign, on election day or while closing out a campaign;
Engage in fundraising activity for any political candidate or cause in Federal offices, facilities, or on military reservations;
March or ride in partisan parades;
Participate in organized efforts to provide voters transportation to polling places if the effort is associated with a partisan political party;
Sell tickets for or actively promote partisan political dinners and similar fundraising events;
Make a campaign contribution to or receive or solicit a campaign contribution from any other member of the Armed Forces on active duty;
Display a partisan political sign visible to the public at one’s residence on a military installation.
There are plenty of things that service members are allowed to do when it comes to the political process:

Register, vote, and express personal opinions on political candidates and public issues;
Encourage other military members to exercise voting rights;
Join a political club (even if partisan) and attend political meetings when not in uniform. (See DoD Instruction 1334.01 (Reference J));
Sign petitions for specific legislative action or to place a candidate’s name on the ballot;
Write letters to the editor expressing personal views (so long as not part of organized letter writing campaign or solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan political cause or candidate).
Requires a disclaimer that the views are those of the individual and not DoD.
Make permissible monetary contributions to a political organization, party, or committee;
Display a bumper sticker on a member’s private vehicle;
Attend a partisan or nonpartisan political fundraising activity, meeting, rally, debate, convention, or activity when not in uniform and when no appearance of sponsorship or endorsement can reasonably be drawn.
NSAB has a full time Voting Assistance Office to assist absentee voter and provide information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).

Deadlines for registration and absentee voting differ from state to state. To find out specific deadlines for your state visit FVAP.gov or contact the Voting Assistance Office. The Voting Assistance Office is located in Bldg. 27, Room 314. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. They may be reached via telephone at 301-295-5099.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2016
• Date Posted: 07.29.2016 07:59
• Story ID: 205428
• Location: BETHESDA, MD, US