A – 065 Under the Head Start Act, may Head Start facilities be used as polling sites for national or local elections?
Yes, Head Start grantees may allow their facilities to be used by local government authorities as polling sites in a general election. Grantees that allow their facilities to be used for polling places in general elections are reminded that they must be careful not to violate any of the specific provisions of Section 656(b) restricting political activities. Section 656(b)(1) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9851(b)(1), prohibits grantees from engaging in “(A) any partisan or nonpartisan political activity associated with a candidate, or contending faction or group, in an election for public or party office, or (B) any activity to provide voters or prospective voters with transportation to the polls or similar assistance in connection with any such election.” Under paragraph (b)(2), “No funds appropriated under this subchapter may be used to conduct voter registration activities. Nothing in this subchapter prohibits the availability of Head Start facilities during hours of operation f
