§2670 Use of Facilities by Private Organizations; Use as Polling Places

Summary

The head of a military department may give the American Red Cross a temporary permit, which can be taken back, to build storage buildings on a military base or to use U.S. buildings there for storing supplies. The permit is given under rules the head sets. Even if other laws say otherwise, the Secretary of Defense or a military department head cannot stop a qualifying Department of Defense facility from being used as an official polling place for local, State, or Federal elections, unless the Secretary decides that local security conditions for that specific facility require a ban. A facility is "qualifying" if, by December 31, 2000, it was already named an official polling place or had been used as one since January 1, 1996. After the Secretary of Veterans Affairs certifies them, the military must allow paid, full‑time, accredited representatives of the organizations named in 38 U.S.C. 5902 (or other VA‑recognized groups) to work on bases where people are discharged or released from active duty, and the base commander must let them use available space and equipment, as long as military security rules are not broken.