Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 dictates actions that service members on active duty may take during election campaigns. According to the directive, a member:
May register, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces;
May promote and encourage other service members to exercise their voting franchise, if the promotion does not attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election;
May join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform;
May 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 not in uniform, and has prior approval of the service secretary concerned;
May 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;
May write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing personal views on public issues or political candidates, if such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign or concerted solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan cause or candidate;
May make monetary contributions to a political organization, party, or committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates; and
May display a political sticker on the member’s private vehicle.
