Staff Reports
The USS George Washington didn’t just launch jets and patrol the Arabian Sea recently — it also ran a voting “rodeo” in the ship’s library so sailors far from home could cast absentee ballots. This is the kind of quiet patriotism that deserves applause, not partisan finger-pointing. Thousands of sailors reportedly used the chance to vote while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, and their example ought to shame anyone with an excuse for skipping the ballot box.
What happened aboard the George Washington
According to Navy public-affairs accounts, Chaplain (Lt.) Steven Matkins organized a voting rodeo that let crew members drop off absentee ballots while underway. Navy Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, the ship’s commanding officer, stressed that giving sailors the chance to vote while on mission is “profound” — it lets the people who defend our freedoms actually exercise them. Seaman Gavin Naab, an information systems technician, said he cast his first-ever ballot and understands how much one ballot can matter for careers and international policy.
Why the voting rodeo matters
This is about more than a feel-good photo op. Deployed troops defend the nation, and they should be able to shape its future at the ballot box. When service members take time between watches and flight operations to vote, it proves civic duty isn’t optional. If thousands of sailors can navigate absentee-ballot rules from the middle of a deployment, the rest of us have no excuse. For conservatives who care about national security and America First policies, active-duty votes matter just as much as anyone else’s.
How deployed voting works — a short primer
Military voting is supported by the Federal Voting Assistance Program and command voting-assistance officers. They help sailors register, file the Federal Post Card Application, and get ballots back to states on time. The Navy says voting rodeos are routine ways to make sure absentee ballots leave the ship with proper handling and chain-of-custody. If officials want credit for the “thousands” figure, the public-affairs office should publish exact participation numbers — transparency is the least the public can expect.
Conclusion
The George Washington’s voting rodeo is a reminder that defending our country and participating in our democracy go hand in hand. Sailors showed up to vote while doing the hard work of keeping sea lanes and American interests secure. That’s the kind of citizenship we should celebrate — and emulate. If our military can manage ballots in a combat zone, then every eligible voter at home can manage one in a local polling place or by absentee request. No excuses.
