Washington:US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a directive for a one-day military standdown this month to ensure service members have the opportunity to vote in the upcoming midterm congressional elections. This initiative will also be implemented in future election years.

According to Anadolu Agency, the standdown must occur by October 15 this year, ahead of the November 3 elections. With early voting options available, the initiative aims to accommodate service members using mail-in and absentee ballots.

Hegseth emphasized the importance of the measure, stating that while the military does not endorse specific candidates, providing the time and opportunity for personnel to vote is crucial. He acknowledged the challenges faced by service members stationed away from their home states in handling absentee ballots.

He urged military personnel to use the standdown day to vote themselves or assist their family members in doing so, either by completing absentee ballots or voting in person.

The directive draws on a 2021 order by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which called for a similar standdown to tackle extremism within the military. Hegseth described this voting initiative as part of a "new and apolitical" approach by the Defense Department under President Donald Trump, aimed at safeguarding the voting rights of military personnel.

Hegseth concluded by affirming the department's commitment to prioritizing voting access for service members, declaring, "We're fixing it right here, right now."