Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is urging service members, military spouses and eligible family members to register for the November midterms, citing an estimate that roughly 300,000 service members were unregistered in 2024 as federal data show the active-duty registration rate declined from 70% to 67%.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is calling on U.S. troops and military families to register and vote in the November midterm elections, while directing commanders and voting assistance officers to make sure service members know how to obtain ballots wherever they are stationed.
In a video posted Friday on X, Hegseth said studies of the 2024 election showed approximately 300,000 service members were not registered to vote, a figure he compared with the number of ballots cast in several major American cities.
Federal Voting Assistance Program data separately show that 67% of active-duty military personnel were registered to vote in 2024, down three percentage points from 70% in 2020. Active-duty voter participation also declined from 47% in 2020 to 42% in 2024.
“300,000. That’s how many of our warriors were not registered to vote, according to studies of the 2024 election. That’s more than the ballots cast in cities like Detroit, Boston, Milwaukee, or Seattle,” Hegseth said.
“As you know, the War Department exists to protect our nation and her freedoms. That includes the freedom to decide who leads us—and the right to vote. It’s why General George Washington crossed the Delaware River 250 years ago: for our right to determine our own American destiny.”
Hegseth directed service members and their families to FVAP.gov, the federal program established to help military personnel, their eligible relatives and overseas citizens register and cast absentee ballots.
The program allows eligible military voters to use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request an absentee ballot. Service members who do not receive their requested state ballot in time can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a backup. FVAP says only one ballot will ultimately be counted if the regular absentee ballot subsequently arrives.
“Regardless of your home state or current duty status, you can use a standardized federal postcard to register and request a ballot. And if you’re forward-deployed and your standard ballot is delayed, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. All of these processes are straightforward and protected by law,” Hegseth said.
“So I’m urging all of our warfighters, their spouses, and eligible family members: Go to FVAP.gov—FVAP.gov—and do it today.”
The military population presents particular voting challenges because large numbers of personnel live far from their legal voting residence.
About 71% of the approximately 1.3 million active-duty force is eligible to vote absentee with protections provided under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act because they reside at least 50 miles from their voting residence, according to FVAP data cited by The Hill. The program’s 2024 report found that military personnel who obtained voting assistance from Defense Department resources were significantly more likely to submit an absentee ballot than those who did not.
Hegseth emphasized that commanders should encourage participation without attempting to influence how troops vote.
“And commanders, get out the vote. You’re not telling them who to vote for; you’re just telling them to vote. And make sure our voting assistance officers—that was actually once my job for my 1st Platoon, 2nd of the 113th Infantry, down at Guantanamo Bay. I was the voting assistance officer, and I proudly got everyone in my platoon and the company registered to vote.”
Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard and deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan during his military career.
Federal law assigns the Defense Department responsibilities for assisting military and overseas voters. The National Voter Registration Act also requires procedures allowing people to apply to register while receiving services from designated military recruitment offices.
FVAP’s 2024 post-election analysis found that active-duty personnel who needed voting help were approximately three times as likely to report returning an absentee ballot when they sought assistance through a Defense Department resource. Twenty-five percent of active-duty personnel voted absentee in 2024, compared with 35% in 2020.
Hegseth told military voting assistance officers to actively reach personnel ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
“So, our voting assistance officers, get out there and register your warfighters. Every warrior deserves an opportunity to cast his or her ballot and be confident that it will be counted.
“Keep our nation the land of the free and the home of the brave. Get registered and vote.”
Comments