Electioneering and the Military

As this election season continues, becomes more heated, and touches deeply on issues that are of vital concern to me, I have begun to look closely at what I can and cannot do as a Reserve Army officer and a Chaplain Candidate.  In that search, I came across this amazing list from About.com.  Though as a reservist this does not directly apply to me, for my career I think it best that I follow it, as if I were on active duty.

I would love your all’s opinions on this list, and how it relates to the restrictions already upon many of us as clergy and congregations. 

Yours in Faith,

David

What Active Duty Members Can and Cannot Do

taken from http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/militarylaw1/a/milpolitics.htm

Can – Register, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces.

Can – Promote and encourage other military members to exercise their voting franchise, if such promotion does not constitute an attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election.

Cannot – Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls if the effort is organized by, or associated with, a partisan can you buy imitrex over the counter political party or candidate.

Cannot – Speak before a partisan political gathering, including any gathering that promotes a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

Cannot – Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against of a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

Can – Join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform.

Cannot – Serve in any official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club.

Cannot – March or ride in a partisan political parade.

Cannot – Sell tickets for, or otherwise actively promote, political dinners and similar fundraising events.

Can – 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 when not in uniform, and has the prior approval of the Secretary concerned or the Secretary’s designee (example, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, ect.).

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 and not as a representative of the Armed Forces.

Cannot – Conduct a political opinion survey under the auspices of a partisan political group or distribute partisan political literature.

Can – Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing the member’s personal views on public issues or political candidates, if 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.

Cannot – Allow or cause to be published partisan political articles signed or written by the member that solicits votes for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

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.

Cannot –Make monetary contributions directly to a political candidate.

Cannot – Make a contribution to another member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States for the purpose of promoting a political objective or cause, including a political campaign.

Cannot – Solicit or receive a contribution from another member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States for the purpose of promoting a political objective or cause, including a political campaign.

Cannot – Solicit or otherwise engage in fundraising activities in Federal offices or facilities, including military reservations, for a partisan political cause or candidate.

Can – Display a political sticker on the member’s private vehicle.

Cannot – Display a large political sign, banner, or poster (as distinguished from a bumper sticker) on the top or side of a private vehicle.

Can – Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings or rallies as a spectator when not in uniform.

Cannot – Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Armed Forces.

Cannot – Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (except as a spectator when not in uniform), or make public speeches in the course thereof.

Cannot – Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political committee during a campaign or on an election day.

Cannot – Use official authority or influence to: interfere with an election, affect the course or outcome of an election, solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or require or solicit political contributions from others.

Cannot – Use contemptuous words against the officeholders described in 10 U.S.C. 888 (10 U.S.C. 888 lists the following officeholders: President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which the military member is on duty).