Rules restrict political activity for DOD people Published July 12, 2004 By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- With election activity steadily picking up, defense officials remind servicemembers and Defense Department civilians that they are subject to rules regulating their involvement in political activities.Gone are the days when the military posted troops at the polls after the Civil War, an act that Steve Epstein, director of the DOD’s general counsel's standards of conduct office, said intimidated many southerners into not voting.Today, Mr. Epstein said two sets of rules help protect the integrity of the political process: a DOD directive for active-duty servicemembers and the Hatch Act for federal civilians. These rules keep the military out of partisan politics and ensure that the workplace remains politically neutral, he said.That is not to imply that they cannot participate in politics. Mr. Epstein said DOD encourages both groups to register to vote and vote as they choose, and to urge others to vote. Both groups can sign nominating petitions for candidates and express their personal opinions about candidates and issues -- but only if they do not do so as representatives of the armed forces. Also, all federal employees can make contributions to political organizations or candidates.Beyond that, the list of restrictions differs widely, depending on whether the employee is an active-duty servicemember, a rank-and-file civil service employee, a political appointee or a member of the career senior executive service, Mr. Epstein said.Of all DOD employees, uniformed servicemembers have the most restrictions regarding political activity, he explained. A 1993 revision to the Hatch Act freed most civil service employees to engage in political activities outside the workplace that were once forbidden, although many restrictions still apply.For example, servicemembers as well as government civilians can attend political meetings or rallies. Servicemembers can attend only as spectators and not in uniform. They are not permitted to make public political speeches, serve in any official capacity in partisan groups, or participate in partisan political campaigns or conventions.On the other hand, civilian employees governed by the Hatch Act may be active in and speak before political gatherings or serve as officers of political parties or partisan groups. They also are permitted to manage campaigns, distribute literature, write political articles or serve as a spokesperson for a party or candidate.Servicemembers generally are not permitted to campaign for a political office. Civilian employees are, as long as it is a nonpartisan election.While the restrictions concerning political activity may vary, Mr. Epstein said the basic rules hold true for all DOD workers. They cannot use their position to influence or interfere with an election. And they can never engage in political activity on the job, in a government vehicle or while wearing an official uniform.More details about restrictions on DOD military and civilian employees' political activities are posted on the DOD Web site.