Active duty service members had lower voting rates than other Americans in all recent elections
Published Date: 11/11/2019
Source: axios.com
Data: FairVote, Federal Voting Assistance Program; Chart: Axios VisualsWhile military voters may seem like an engaged bloc, they consistently turn out at lower rates than the general electorate.By the numbers: According to data from the Federal Voting Assistance Program, active duty service members turned out at lower rates than the total general population in every recent election.Civilian voters: 2018: 49.6% 2016: 60.1%2014: 36.7%2012: 58.2%2010: 41.0%Active duty military voters: 2018: 31%2016: 46%2014: 24%2012: 55%2010: 29%The big picture: On the surface, military voting doesn't appear too different from the typical absentee voting process. According to USAGov, military members abroad looking to vote must: Register by the deadline in their state of residence. Complete the Federal Post Card Application, which allows service members to vote abroad.Receive a ballot, fill it out and send it back. Emergency ballots are available if a proper ballot is not received in time.Contact the state you're voting in to ensure your ballot arrived.Between the lines: The demands of military lifestyle add some complexities to this process. Postage can be extremely difficult to come by when deployed, as can receiving and sending mail while on a ship or in a combat zone. This often leads to military ballots getting to service members or back to precincts too late to be counted. A lack of connection to stateside news can also leave deployed voters uninformed on candidates, especially in local elections, where coverage is very centralized. The bottom line: While a lack of turnout can often be dismissed as a lack of determination, it’s worth remembering that obstacles beyond a citizen’s control can be significant deterrents. Go deeper: Military vets are setting a record in 2018