Political Activity as a Federal Employee

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jennifer Kindred
  • Assistant Staff Judge Advocate
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  As election season dawns, talk of health care, education, employment, national debt, and war policy starts to heat up and take on familiar news agency talking points. Whether you are right, left, center, right side up or upside down, military personnel and civilian employees must follow Department of Defense and Air Force regulations in regards to political activities.

Generally, the rules' intent is to keep politics out of the office and eliminate any abuse of our positions as military and federal employees to influence partisan political campaigns.

One basic ground rule is that everyone can, and should always, vote! No matter where your home of record is, or if you have to mail in your ballot, you should vote. Military personnel can register to vote absentee at www.FVAP.gov.

Different political activity restrictions apply to civilians and military personnel.

Executive Branch Civilians are generally allowed to engage in any type of political activity except become a candidate for public office in partisan elections. Civilians cannot use their official authority to interfere with an election; engage in political activity while on duty or while wearing an official uniform. Further, civilians may not wear political buttons while on duty or host or sponsor a political fundraiser, although they may attend one.

Civilians may not solicit, accept or receive political contributions unless both individuals are members of the same federal labor organization or employee organization and the one solicited is not a subordinate. Remember; try to keep politics out of the office.

Military personnel, to include active duty, reservists and national guardsman cannot engage in any political activities while in their official capacity or wearing their official uniform, which includes marching in parades, distributing political campaign or election literature, and engaging in public commentary, such as speeches and written submissions offered for publication, concerning political campaigns or elections.

And, contrary to one popular misconception, military personnel did not give up their rights to political speech upon entering military service. In an unofficial capacity, military personnel can write letters to their newspaper editors, blog online, march in parades, and make politically charged speeches. However, military members must be aware use of their official title, pictures in military uniform, and participation in activities in military uniform give the indirect impression that DoD endorses the member's political speech and is therefore, not allowed.

Part of being American is the ability to express oneself through political speech. We live in a hyper partisan culture that can become all consuming during election season. DoD members may always vote and should feel free to exercise their political freedom, just not in their official military or federal employment capacity!

For any questions concerning political activities consult AFI 51-902; J.E.R. 6-200-6-203; DOD 5500.7-R or the base legal office at 677-3300.