In this opinion essay for The New York Times, Elliot Ackerman examines the dangers that contested elections pose to America’s tradition of an apolitical military.
Drawing on his early experience as a naval R.O.T.C. midshipman during the 2000 election, Ackerman considers how military service creates a distinct relationship to the president as commander in chief.
Contested Elections and Military Neutrality
Ackerman traces the growing pattern of contested elections from 2000 to 2016 and 2020, warning that repeated challenges to legitimacy can place dangerous pressure on democratic institutions.
Civil-Military Relations
The essay explores how the politicization of retired military leaders could affect active-duty service members, especially if protests and unrest follow future elections.
Democracy and Election Legitimacy
At its center, the piece argues that bipartisan voting-rights legislation and shared rules for elections are essential to preserving public trust and preventing the military from being drawn into political crisis.