Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed commanders across the military to conduct a one-day stand-down by Oct. 15, giving service members dedicated time to vote or complete the process of registering and requesting absentee ballots.

“We're not telling you who to vote for, but we will give you every opportunity to do so,” Hegseth said in a video released Friday. “You are the best citizens of our country, and therefore you should have every opportunity to exercise your right to vote.”

Under the new policy, military units will conduct a one-day voting stand-down during federal election years. Service members will be able to use the time to vote in person, mail absentee ballots, or take other steps necessary to participate in the election.

The policy comes as a significant number of active-duty service members remain unregistered. Federal Voting Assistance Program data from the 2024 election found that 67% of active-duty military members were registered, meaning roughly one-third were not registered.

Military personnel frequently face unique challenges when voting because they may be stationed far from their legal voting residence or deployed overseas. Federal law provides military voters with absentee voting protections, and the Federal Voting Assistance Program provides resources for registering, requesting ballots, and returning them from wherever service members are stationed.

Service members who do not receive their regular absentee ballot in time can also use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a backup. FVAP says the ballot is available to military and overseas voters who need an alternative way to cast their ballot before an election deadline.

Hegseth has emphasized that the initiative is intended to be nonpartisan and does not direct troops toward any candidate or political party. The 2026 midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, with control of Congress at stake.

Hegseth also contrasted the voting stand-down with a similar military-wide pause ordered by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in 2021 following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Austin's stand-down was designed to reinforce military policies concerning prohibited extremist activity and give commanders an opportunity to discuss the military oath and related issues.

“This is a new and apolitical War Department with all the right priorities,” Hegseth said while contrasting his initiative with Austin's order.

Military stand-downs are typically used to temporarily pause normal operations and focus personnel on a specific issue. Hegseth's directive would establish voting as another recurring reason for a department-wide pause during federal election years.

The new policy is intended to give service members additional time to exercise their voting rights despite the logistical challenges that come with serving away from home. FVAP provides state-specific registration deadlines, absentee ballot information, and other resources for military voters.