Leveraging Trust: The Impact of Veterans as Poll Workers on Electoral Confidence

• In Event: Poster Session: Public Policy & Society, Extremism, and Democratic Backsliding
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Society, Extremism, and Democratic Backsliding

Abstract

In 2022, the non-profit Vet the Vote registered over 63,000 veterans nationwide to volunteer as impartial poll workers for upcoming elections. In the face of lower overall confidence in democratic processes, their goal is to "empower veterans across the country to become civic leaders and policy advocates" (Vet the Vote Foundation 2024). Given high levels of trust in the U.S. military, the engagement of former military service members in elections may foster trust and confidence in the electoral process. However, even after service, military participation may also present concerns of undue military influence in elections. This paper explores these potential consequences of recruiting military veterans as poll workers.

Through a survey experiment, this paper answers three major questions: (1) does employing military veterans as poll workers increase trust and confidence in U.S. elections, (2) does veteran participation in elections increase apprehensions about military influence in U.S. elections, and (3) does this participation alter views of the military as an institution? I hypothesize that military poll workers increase trust in elections, particularly among Republicans and voters distrustful of elections. However, they decrease trust among those who see the military veterans as central to the events on January 6th and are critical of these events. Consequently, this intervention may be a valuable tool in the face of election denial and distrust, with important caveats. However, I also hypothesize that this intervention escalates distrust in the military as an institution and increases fears of militarizing our elections. Consequently, a delicate trade-off exists between former service members' involvement in elections and the long-term health of the military.

This study contributes to current research on electoral innovations combatting distrust in U.S. elections and academic discourse on electoral integrity. By exploring institutional trust and the potential risks of militarization, the study also offers valuable insights into civil-military relations and the optimal role of the military in U.S. politics.


References:
Vet the Vote Foundation. 2024. "About Us." Accessed January 1, 2024. https://vvfnd.org/about/

Author

• Nicole Kliewer, Carnegie Mellon University