MILITARY VOTE 2024: WHO WILL THE TOP ARMY OFFICERS SUPPORT?

It can be challenging for Soldiers to balance their political beliefs and their obligation to remain apolitical. As election season approaches, and the country becomes more politically divided, military personnel must be mindful of the political activities they may or may not partake in. This includes knowing how to vote when deployed and learning how to conduct yourself as an active duty member in an election year.

There are many factors that can influence the military vote 2024, such as the candidates’ policies and how they’re perceived by active duty members and Veterans. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump now have to prove themselves to the Soldiers and show how they are the best fit to become their next commander-in-chief.

Military Vote 2024: Who Has the Advantage?

With the election coming this November, the military vote is expected to have a significant impact on who will be the next president. With Donald Trump and Kamala Harris vying for the nomination, it's still unclear who will win over Veterans and active duty personnel.

Both parties have Veterans running for vice president for the first time in 20 years. The republican’s nominee for vice president, JD Vance, was a Marine, while Democrat Tim Walz was in the Army National Guard.

Will Military Personnel Support Kamala Harris?

Veterans have historically supported Republican presidential candidates for many years, but new data shows that their support is shifting toward Democratic contenders. The younger and more diversified Veteran population is said to be the key to this monumental shift.

More minorities are enlisting and remaining in the military despite the fact that over 70% of Veterans are white. As a result, the Veteran population is becoming more diverse and more accepting of liberal politicians and policies.

Younger Veterans and active-duty personnel, particularly those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, are more often identifying as politically independent or leaning towards the Democratic Party. With the party’s efforts in the areas of social justice legislation and women's health care programs, these Veterans find themselves supporting these policies.

Voting trends have changed mostly due to the community's ever-growing diverse demographic, which includes women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ persons. These organizations give priority to causes, including LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and gender equality. The question remains: will this be enough to get Kamala elected as the next president?

Will Military Personnel Support Donald Trump?

It has been historically known that military Veterans identify with the Republican Party and lend their support to their candidates. According to a Pew Research Center survey done in early September, around six out of ten registered voters who claim to have served in the US military or military reserves support former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, 37% prefer Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president.

This wide gap exists because most Veteran voters believe that Trump's policies will improve their lives if he wins the election. On the other hand, a third of Veterans who support Harris think that her ideas would not significantly change their lives. The same goes with the vice presidential nominee, with JD Vance getting more support from the Veterans than Tim Walz.

With Kamala receiving support from minorities and progressive groups and Trump getting his support from Veterans and conservative groups, both parties will surely race to get the majority support from the military and win the presidency.

700 Former Military Officials Publicly Endorse Harris

In a September letter signed by retired Navy Sailor, R Adm Michael Smith and hundreds of other military officials, it was revealed that a majority of the include officials were in alignment with Kamala Harris' policies, referring to her as "a candidate who defends America's democratic ideals." In the same letter, the officials stated that Donald Trump was "unfit for the job."

Additionally, the security and military officials wrote that, "Harris grasps the reality of American military deterrence, promising to preserve the American military's status as the most 'lethal' force in the world."

According to the letter, the officials further explained, "The contrast with Mr. Trump is clear: where Vice President Harris is prepared and strategic, he is impulsive and ill-informed."

The letter was signed by 15 retired four-star generals, 12 former Cabinet-level officials, 8 service secretaries, and more than 120 ambassadors.

Notable names include: Retired General Larry Ellis, Retired Rear Admiral Michael Smith, Retired Army General Peter Chiarelli, Retired four-star General Paul Selva, and retired Maj, Gen. Eric Thorne Olson.

Over 400 Retired Military Officers & National Security Officials Publicly Endorse Trump

As of October 2024, more than 400 national security, foreign policy, retired military officials, and Gold Star families have come forward and endorsed former President Trump.

In an open organized by former Security advisor Robert O' Brian and former NSC Chief of Staff Alex Gray, the signees condemned the Biden administration's "repeated failures" related to foreign policy, urging the American people to re-elect Donald Trump.

The letter states, "From a world at peace under President Trump, we are closer to a third world war than ever before under the Biden-Harris Administration. With multiple escalating wars around the world, an open border that allows terrorist to flood int the American homeland, and malign actors like China operating unabated, U.S. national security has been profoundly damaged by the failed policies of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden."

The endorsement was signed by members of the Trump administration, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Gold Star family members, and more.

Important Reminders for Soldiers During Election Season

As long as they are not wearing uniforms, Soldiers are allowed to engage in political activities such as voting and attending political gatherings as observers. However, there are limitations on Soldiers' ability to engage in political campaigns. For example, serving Soldiers are not permitted to speak or advocate for a political party.

For additional information, here are the three points that active-duty Soldiers should keep in mind when participating in political activities:

• Stay Away from Political Fundraisers: Soldiers are not allowed to request, accept, or receive political contributions from anybody, anywhere, at any time.
• Before Running for Office: Soldiers are not permitted to nominate or run for any civil office without permission from the Secretary of the Army.
• Using Army Resources: It is forbidden to engage in political activity at work or to utilize Army resources for political purposes.

Read next:

• What Does the Military Do for Our Country?
• How to Vote When Deployed: Ensure Your Ballot Counts
• How to Change Your Voter Registration in the Military