Airmen dos/don'ts during political season

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jeff Coleman
  • 3rd Wing Legal Office
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  With the 2008 presidential election only weeks away, keep in mind that special ethics rules apply to active-duty Airmen regarding their political activities. The purpose of these rules is to ensure the Department of Defense does not influence our nation's electoral process. As an Airman, you should be familiar with what you can and cannot do regarding political activities.

As an Airman, you may:

· Register, vote, and express your opinions on political candidates and issues (but not as a representative of the Armed Forces).
· Make monetary contributions to a political organization.
· Promote and encourage other military members to exercise their voting
rights, if such action does not attempt to influence or interfere with the
outcome of an election. Do not encourage subordinates to vote for
or against a particular issue or candidate.
· 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 out of uniform, and has the prior approval of the Secretary of the Air Force.
· Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate's name on an official election ballot.
· 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.
· Display a political sticker on your private vehicle.

As an Airman, 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, solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or solicit 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.

Political activities of civilian employees are governed by the Hatch Act. Guidance was previously distributed to employees through a key manager message from the Civilian Personnel Office.

If you have any questions, please contact the legal office through your chain of command.