Officials with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office told election officials Friday that tea party shirts and hats are not allowed in polling places after supporters were kicked out of voting precincts in Walker and Catoosa counties.
Tea party leaders say they should be able to wear their gear because they are not a political party.
The tea movement, an acronym for Taxed Enough Already, has gained traction in conservative North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee over the last two years. The loose organization claims to be nonpartisan, but its endorsements in several races are mostly Republicans and Libertarians.
James Groce, head of the Walker County Tea Party, said he was kicked out of a Chickamauga voting precinct last week for wearing a Walker County Tea Party shirt.
He said he was allowed to vote after calling the elections office and threatening to call U.S. marshals. He said the shirt does not promote any candidate or party affiliation.