The Defense Department is urging all service members to vote, but wants to ensure that the ranks understand what they can and cannot do when it comes to political campaigns. Service members can:
* Contribute money to political organizations;
* Encourage comrades in uniform to vote but not attempt to sway them;
* Sign petitions for legislation or action, but not as a representative of the armed forces;
* Write letters to the editor without identifying themselves as members of the armed forces;
* Display small bumper stickers on personal vehicles.
They cannot:
* Use their official military status to influence an election;
* Take part in media discussions as an advocate;
* Display large political signs on personal vehicles;
* Provide transportation of voters to polls as part of a partisan effort;
* Officers are forbidden from disparaging or showing disrespect for most federal officials.
