Elections and you: participation in political activities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Alexander Puma
  • 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 2012 election season is upon us, and while there are rules surrounding involvement in the political process, service members actually have a great deal of flexibility in how they can participate.

The rules are intended to strike the appropriate balance between service members' individual rights as U.S. citizens, while avoiding any improper appearance of DoD endorsement.

In furtherance of these rules and DoD policy, the Air Force has published a fairly extensive list of approved and disapproved political activities in AFI 51-902, Political Activities by Members of the U.S. Air Force. Should a service member violate AFI 51-902, the violation is punishable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Failure to Obey a Lawful Regulation.

The following are some common do's and don'ts:

You can attend a political rally or event as a spectator. However, you cannot wear your uniform and cannot speak in front of the rally.

You can express your personal opinion to Congress about legislation or personal issues, but cannot speak on behalf of your unit or the military.

You can write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your personal views concerning public issues or political candidates, as long as such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign or a solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan political cause or candidate. 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 must clearly state that the views expressed are your personal views and not those of the Air Force or DoD. You must apply this principle to personal views written for publication in all forms of print and electronic media, to include magazines, social media and blogging.

You cannot participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

You can 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. You cannot claim to represent the military when signing a petition.

You can put a political-oriented bumper sticker on your personal car. However, you cannot display a large political sign, banner or poster on your private vehicle.

You can make monetary contributions to a political organization, party or committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates, subject to the limitations of law. You cannot solicit political contributions from others.

You can attend a political dinner or similar fundraiser, but not in uniform. You cannot sell tickets for, or otherwise actively promote, the dinner or similar fundraising events.

You cannot display a large political sign, poster, banner or similar device visible to the public at your residence on a military installation, even if that residence is part of a privatized housing development.

You can vote for candidates who support your views. You can promote and encourage other military members to exercise their military voting rights, so long as such promotion does not constitute an attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election. You cannot encourage them to vote for a particular candidate or party. You cannot campaign for a particular candidate representing yourself as a military member.

If you are unsure of the legality of any activities, please familiarize yourself with AFI 51-902 and contact the 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office at 377-4114.