Servicemembers and politics - what is allowed Published April 7, 2008 By Senior Airman Robert Barnett 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- As presidential voting season approaches, many military members and dependents become curious about how much they can do for the political party of their choice. "Generally speaking, the military stays out of the electoral process completely, because we need to stay neutral," said Capt. Gabe Pedrick 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate, Chief, Adverse Actions. "The AFI is pretty straight-forward." Air Force Instruction 51-902 outlines the things military members can and cannot do politically. Active duty members cannot: - Use official authority or influence to interfere with an election, to affect its course or outcome, to solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or to require or solicit political contributions from others. - Be a candidate for, or hold civil office, except as authorized in the AFI. - Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions, or make public speeches in the course of such activity. - Allow, or cause to be published, partisan political articles signed or authorized by the member for soliciting votes for or against a partisan political party or candidate. - Serve in any official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club. - Speak before a partisan political gathering of any kind for promoting a partisan political party or candidate. - Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate. - Conduct a political opinion survey under the auspices of a partisan political group, or distribute partisan political literature. - Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political committee during a campaign or on election day. - Solicit or otherwise engage in fund-raising activities in federal offices or facilities, including military reservations, for a partisan political cause or candidate. - March or ride in a partisan political parade. - Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls, if the effort is organized by or associated with a partisan political party or candidate. - Attend, as an official representative of the Armed Forces, partisan political events, even without actively participating. - Engage in the public or organized recruitment of others to become partisan candidates for nomination or election to a civil office. - Make campaign contributions to a partisan political candidate. - Make campaign contributions to another member of the Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the federal government for promoting a political objective or cause. - Solicit or receive a campaign contribution from another member of the Armed Forces or from a civilian officer or employee of the United States for promoting a political objective or cause. - Use contemptuous words against the office holders described in Title 10, United States Code, Section 888. - Display a large political sign, banner, or poster on the top or side of a member's private vehicle (as distinguished from a political sticker). - Sell tickets for, or otherwise actively promote, political dinners and other such fund-raising events. That list may seem long, but there are also several things active duty service members are allowed to do. Active duty members can: - Register to vote, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces. - Make monetary contributions to a political organization or political committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates, subject to limitations under the AFI. - Attend political meetings or rallies as a spectator when not in uniform. - Join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform. - Serve as an election official, if such service is not as a representative of a partisan political party, does not interfere with military duties, is performed while out of uniform, and has the prior approval of the major command commander or equivalent authority. This approval authority may be delegated, but not below the level of installation commander. - Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate's name on an official election ballot, if the signing does not obligate the member to engage in partisan political activity and is done as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces. - Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing the member's personal views concerning public issues, if those views do not attempt to promote a partisan political cause. - Display a political sticker on the member's private vehicle, or wear a political button when not in uniform and not on duty. - Write a personal letter, not for publication, expressing preference for a specific political candidate or cause, if the action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign on behalf of a partisan political cause or candidate. "You should vote because that is your voice for your representative government. It is individual, sacred, and private," said Capt. Amy Karpan, 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate, Chief, Civil Law, "The purpose of the AFI is to show the public that the military is not endorsing one candidate or another. Every time you put on the uniform, you're speaking for the military." For situations not covered by the Air Force instruction, the member should contact their unit voting representative.