Political Activity Tips and Reminders

  • Published
  • By 442d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. --  As we continue further into political season, there are several policies that service members, both active-duty and reserve alike, should keep in mind before choosing to participate or actively involve themselves. Below is a list of compiled tips and reminders including what military members can and cannot do with respect to politics, as well as useful information on the appropriate use of social media.

This information is courtesy of Air Force Global Strike Command Judge Advocate and Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs. If there is any doubt as to what is or is not permitted, personnel should contact their unit judge advocate or their Federal Voting Officer to ensure any participation is legal.

The 442d Fighter Wing Legal Office can be reached at (660) 687-3756.

As a military member, you may:

· Register, vote and privately express your opinions on political candidates and issues (but not as a representative of the Armed Forces).

· Make monetary contributions to a political organization.

· Encourage other military members to exercise their voting rights, however, you may not attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election. Also, you may not encourage subordinates to vote for or against a particular issue or candidate.

· Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate's name on an official election ballot. You may not identify yourself by rank or duty title.

· Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your personal views on public issues or political candidates, if such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign. You may not identify yourself by rank or duty title. If the letter identifies you as being on active-duty status (or if you are otherwise reasonably identifiable as a member of the Armed Forces), the letter should clearly state that the views expressed are your individual views and not those of the Air Force or DOD.

· Display a small bumper sticker on your private vehicle.

As a military member, you may not:

· Use your official authority, influence or government resources including e-mail, to interfere with an election, affect the course or outcome of an election, encourage votes for a particular candidate or issue or ask for political contributions from others.

· Participate in any radio, television or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate.

· Solicit or fundraise in federal offices, facilities or military reservations for a partisan political cause or candidate.

· Display a large political sign, banner or poster (as distinguished from a bumper sticker) on the top or side of a private vehicle.

· Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls if the effort is organized by a partisan political party or candidate.

· Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Armed Forces.

· Display a partisan political sign, poster, banner or similar device visible to the public at one's residence on a military installation, even if that residence is part of a privatized housing development.

· Under Article 88 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, military officers may not publicly disrespect or undermine certain elected officials, federal secretaries or congress.

Note: Partisan political activities are actions that show support for a particular political party or candidate. For example, an Airman may not participate in a rally supporting a candidate, work for a candidate's election committee, and run for elected office, or appear in a political advertisement or otherwise officially support a candidate.

Social Media Reminders:

· While U.S. culture promotes opinions and debate, Airmen should be reminded that, while on active duty -- and even for reservists who may be perceived as active military representatives, participating in politics on social media is exactly the same as it is in person: strictly prohibited.

· Participating in politics is prohibited for members of the DOD and Department of Homeland Security when that participation can be interpreted as an official endorsement.

· For active-duty Airmen, that's any Facebook share, Twitter retweet or other repost of material from a political party, partisan candidate or campaign profile to friends, or even to post on those sites in a way that would constitute political activity. Nor can Airmen suggest their friends "like" those sites.

· For members not on active duty, such as reservists and guardsmen, political activity is permitted on social media so long as their participation in no way implies official endorsement or condemnation of any particular partisan political entity.