Post-9/11 veterans split between supporting Harris, Trump

Post-9/11 veterans were surveyed in recent weeks on how they're approaching the presidential election.

These veterans are politically engaged, with 96% saying they're registered to vote and 95% planning to cast a ballot this election.

And post-9/11 veterans are largely politically independent, with 55% saying they don't identify with either major party. Twenty-seven percent said they identify as Republican, and 19% said they identify as Democratic.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a veterans' service organization, Oct. 9-15.

IAVA CEO Allison Jaslow previously told The National News Desk that she applauded both campaigns for picking veterans, especially post-9/11 veterans who served in the enlisted ranks, to join their tickets as vice presidential candidates.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump's running mate, are .

"In the age of all-volunteer force, these are two men who stepped up to serve, wore the uniform when so many other fellow Americans have not, and that on the whole should be something that we should be proud of and should celebrate ...," .

As for the top of the ticket, the new IAVA survey found split support.

Trump has a 51% to 49% edge over Harris, which is within the margin of error.

When third-party or alternate choices are included, Harris gains a slight edge: 43% Harris, 42% Trump, and 15% other.

IAVA also noted a gender gap in its survey results, with 61% of IAVA women saying they're supporting Harris.

Nearly 70% of the veterans said they voted by mail or absentee ballot while they were serving in the military. Today, just 44% said they plan to vote in-person on Election Day. About a quarter planned to vote in-person early, and about a quarter planned to vote by mail.