Hegseth orders October voting day off for all US troops

What Hegseth announced

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that every U.S. service member will receive one day off in October to vote in the 2026 midterm elections. He said the Pentagon’s stand-down order will be carried out by Oct. 15.

The announcement establishes a department-wide voting policy rather than an action connected to a particular candidate or contest. Hegseth described the policy as “apolitical,” meaning it is not intended to support a political party or candidate.

The order sets two central requirements: The benefit applies to all U.S. troops, and each service member is to receive one day away from regular duties for voting. The announced October timing places a clear deadline on the Pentagon’s initial implementation.

A recurring election-year policy

Hegseth said the voting stand-down will continue in even-numbered election years. That makes the policy recurring rather than limited to the 2026 midterms.

The Pentagon will now have to put the order into effect across the armed forces by Oct. 15. Implementation will determine how the department and military commands schedule the day off while applying the policy to all service members.

The announcement concerns voting access for troops and does not directly involve a particular federal, state or local race. Its immediate effect is to require a Pentagon-wide pause from regular duties for one day in October, with the same approach set to return during future even-numbered election years.