The military is one of the most trusted institutions in America. If service members, veterans, and their families are still willing to commit their lives to protecting the set of principles and values that define the American way of life, perhaps civilian Americans should follow their lead.
A survey recently released by Blue Star Families, More Perfect, and Vet the Vote shows that veterans and military families trust our American election system. Ninety-three percent of military-connected respondents indicated that they feel voting can influence the direction of the country “some” or “a lot” compared to a Pew Research American Trends Panel18 from July 2024 which found that only 56 percent of registered voters feel the same.
Our American election system is transparent and accountable at all levels of government. No country on the planet is more transparent than the United States of America. Just think about the process you experience as an individual when you vote. Think about your fellow Americans who serve at your election poll. I bet you have no real reason not to trust them or the electoral process in your hometown.
While “America Runs on Dunkin’” works for our morning coffee, America really runs on trust. Veterans and military families know that to serve a purpose higher than self requires trust in those around them and in public institutions. Preserving our American way of life should be the shared purpose around which all Americans can rally.
Trust in our election system is foundational to our self-governing experiment. Without trust in one another and in our public institutions, we Americans risk giving away our republic.
