LIVE from COATI: Why Veterans Check Out of Elections

In this live episode recorded at COATI, Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson talk about a contradiction in military life. Service members risk their lives to bring voting to other countries, but veterans and active-duty troops often vote at lower rates than the public they serve.The hosts share their own stories. They talk about checking out of local politics while moving between duty stations, voting absentee in home states they no longer followed, and not realizing that the Colorado they'd retire to was being shaped by elections they ignored. They make the case for Colorado to drop state income tax on active-duty pay so service members have a reason to register here. They also explain why Colorado Springs' southeast side, with turnout well below the rest of the city, has the most at stake.The conversation then turns to the midterms. They cover the Iran war as a motivator for military families, the eight suicide attempts the Navy confirmed in the Lincoln strike group, the growing gap between public will and military orders, and why veterans should use the credibility they carry at the family dinner table. Adam and Dick close with how they each went from active duty to civic engagement and running for office.