Securing the Veteran Vote: The Case for Clear, Actionable Policies in 2024

Veterans vote. And in this highly anticipated and contentious election year, their votes have a significant impact. Both parties appear aware of this: vice presidential candidates Vance and Walz have appealed to their veteran status on the campaign trail since being selected for the ticket. But a stump speech is one thing – policy is another. As the November election draws near, both political parties must present clear, actionable solutions that address veterans’ issues, such as homelessness, mental health, and food insecurity, and improve health care and living conditions for active-duty personnel.

Veterans and their votes

Veterans are more likely to be registered to vote and to have voted in recent elections than their non-military peers, with a poll by Mission Roll Call finding that 98% of veterans are actually registered nationwide. With over 18 million veterans residing in the United States and their significant turnout numbers in the 2022 elections, their collective voice is influential and powerful in local, state, and national elections. Candidates who are interested in winning these votes need to present clear, actionable plans to address veterans’ issues once in office. Anything less is just lip service.

Service members transitioning to civilian life face significant challenges, from accessing quality healthcare, to attaining gainful employment, or receiving adequate mental health support. These issues are distinct but interrelated, and veterans who struggle in one area often end up in a cycle of challenges that is increasingly difficult to break.

Low pay – and a strained VA service

For example, 24% of active-duty military members face food insecurity due to inadequate pay, with the income pay of an E1 (private) frequently below the poverty line. Financial insecurity is often the first domino that can lead veterans down a difficult path, affecting their mental and physical health and stability. As a result of financial insecurities in veteran communities, in 2023, 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness – which in turn can exacerbate mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicidality, and substance use and makes consistent healthcare treatment difficult to maintain.

And unfortunately, regardless of financial stability, many veterans still struggle to access essential healthcare. Of the 4.4 million veterans living in rural America, 2.7 million are enrolled in the Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare system, meaning they must travel to VA facilities to receive care. However, in practice, the VA does not have the infrastructure to provide these services easily to all communities. Since rural veterans often need to drive long distances to access VA facilities, they may be more likely to delay or forgo necessary procedures to benefit from their VA care. The current policy also exacerbates provider shortages – because there are simply not enough VA providers to keep up with demand. Instead, the next administration must make it a priority to eliminate barriers, provide more access points, and allow veterans the freedom to choose their healthcare providers.

Root causes of financial insecurity and poor health

The next administration must take care to address veterans’ health, financial and benefits issues at the root – which includes an examination of the circumstances that precede and can lead to these worst-case scenarios for our veterans. These plans must be also informed by data and polling by and for veterans themselves. A recent Mission Roll Call poll underscores that veterans themselves recognize the need to break this cycle, revealing that in the upcoming presidential election, veterans’ top three priorities are benefits (28.26%), homelessness (24.73%), and healthcare access (24.42%).

Veterans’ concerns need to be addressed now with specific policies of how these issues will be resolved to secure veteran votes come November. While both parties have put emphasis on their VP candidates’ service records, this emphasis must be matched with policy that translates their experiences into actionable plans to address veterans’ issues once in office.

Helping veterans also enhances national security

Effective policies will benefit not only veterans and active-duty service members but also enhance overall national security and resilience. Currently, young adults interested in serving may be deterred by a perceived lack of support and stability in the military. By demonstrating and delivering on promises to improve support for current and former service members, the administration can address recruitment and retention challenges and reaffirm military careers as desirable and well-supported paths.

Veterans have shown their deep commitment to the nation through their military service and their participation in the democratic process. In return, there should be a unified effort to ensure they receive the care and support they deserve, rather than using their challenges for political gain. As we approach the 2024 election, both candidates must offer clear and systemic solutions to the root causes of these issues, rather than treating veterans as a bargaining chip. Our veterans continue to serve us, and leaders must not hesitate to serve them in return.

This article was originally published by RealClearDefense and made available via RealClearWire.