Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, that all U.S. service members will receive one day off in October to facilitate participation in the 2026 midterm elections. The directive, characterized as a stand-down order, is intended to allow troops time to submit mail-in ballots or vote in person. Hegseth stated that the order must be executed by Oct. 15 and will apply to future even-numbered election years.
The announcement follows a message on Sept. 25, 2026, in which Hegseth urged military personnel and their families to register for the upcoming midterms. In that statement, Hegseth cited analysis from the 2024 presidential election suggesting that approximately 300,000 active-duty members were not registered to vote. He noted that service members often face difficulties with the absentee ballot process because they are stationed outside of their home states.
The stand-down order specifically allocates time for service members to complete and process Federal Post Card Applications (FPCA), which are used to register and request absentee ballots. Hegseth stated that if a standard ballot is delayed for forward-deployed troops, they may use a federal write-in absentee ballot. While the Secretary told commanders to "get out the vote," he emphasized that the department is not instructing personnel on which candidates to support.
The policy affects approximately 2.1 million active-duty service members. By providing a mandatory one-day pause in normal operations, the Department of Defense aims to address a specific gap in voter participation identified in federal data. According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, approximately two-thirds of active-duty members were registered for the 2024 election, representing a three-point decrease from 2020 levels. The 300,000 unregistered troops identified by the Secretary exceed the total number of ballots cast in cities such as Detroit or Seattle.
For the individual service member, this order translates to a guaranteed day free from standard training or operational duties by Oct. 15, 2026, specifically to manage voting logistics. Personnel will notice a formal shift in their unit's schedule, with time dedicated to administrative tasks like the Federal Post Card Application. The move makes the election stand-down a recurring requirement for every even-numbered year.
The directive comes during a period of military engagement, as the Pentagon recently announced higher combat pay amid conflict with Iran and the deployment of 4,000 Marines and sailors to the Middle East. Despite these operational demands, the stand-down remains scheduled for completion by mid-October. The November 2026 midterm elections will serve as the first test of whether the dedicated time off correlates with military voter turnout compared to previous cycles.