Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered commanders to set aside a day this month for troops to register, request absentee ballots and vote, expanding his push for military voter participation.
The directive, signed Thursday and announced Friday, requires a one-day voting “stand-down” by Oct. 15 and establishes the practice for every even-numbered year.
“Now, we’re not telling you who to vote for, but we will give you every opportunity to do so,” Hegseth said in a video posted Friday on X. “It’s then up to you to exercise your right as an American to choose your elected leaders.”
The order sets aside time for service members to consult voting-assistance officers, review state requirements, complete registration and request absentee ballots. It also directs supervisors to accommodate troops helping their spouses and voting-age dependents navigate the process.
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Hegseth’s announcement follows his appeal last week for troops and their families to register and vote, and as President Donald Trump pushes new barriers to mail voting.
Fewer than half of active-duty service members reported voting in the last presidential election. The Federal Voting Assistance Program estimated participation at 42% in 2024. A separate Census Bureau survey put turnout among civilians at about 65%.
The directive explicitly bars commanders and other leaders from trying to influence service members’ choices.
“All voting assistance activities must remain strictly nonpartisan,” the memo states. “No commander, VAO, or leader at any level shall attempt to influence, direct, or advise a Service member or their family on how or for whom to vote.”
Hegseth has appeared on the midterm trail, campaigning for Republican congressional candidates aligned with Trump in a break from traditional Pentagon norms. He has said he did so in a personal capacity.
The defense secretary traveled to Kentucky in May to rally for Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein in his primary race against incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie, and also appeared at an August fundraiser in Iowa for Republican Rep. Zach Nunn.
His announcement also included a political jab at the Biden administration.
He cited then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s February 2021 stand-down to address extremism, while dismissing its focus as a “vaguely defined but urgent extremism problem.” Austin ordered that initiative after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
“As I’ve stated before, this is a new and apolitical war department with all the right priorities,” Hegseth said.
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