Polling place attire rules explained: What’s banned and what’s OK in Georgia

ATLANTA — Voting is underway in Georgia for the 2024 General Election. 

But while getting ready to head to the polls, one might want to double-check what they're wearing. 

11Alive is verifying whether wearing something that supports a favorite candidate could get a person in trouble. 

Back in 2020, 11Alive verified that while one cannot wear "MAGA" attire to vote, a person can wear things that support "Black Lives Matter."

Now, in a follow-up, we got asked another question involving voting attire. 

THE SOURCES 

• The Georgia Secretary of State's Office 
• Emory University Political Science Professor Andra Gillespie 
• Georgia Poll Worker Manual 
  
  

QUESTION ONE 

Can someone wearing a "Pmurt" shirt be turned away from the polls in Georgia? "Pmurt" is "Trump" spelled backward. 

THE ANSWER 

Yes, someone wearing a "Pmurt" shirt can be turned away from the polls in Georgia. 

HERE'S WHAT WE FOUND   

According to the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, it's against the law to campaign within 150 feet of a polling place. That means one cannot have shirts, jackets, hats or any other clothing with the name of a candidate, political party or slogan. Wearing a candidate's name, even backward, to cast a ballot would be in violation. 

QUESTION TWO

Can someone wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt be turned away from the polls in Georgia? 

THE ANSWER 

No, someone wearing either a "White Lives Matter" or "Black Lives Matter" shirt will not be turned away at the polls in The Peach State. 

HERE'S WHAT WE FOUND 

Emory University Political Science Professor Andra Gillespie said it's OK to wear material pertaining to "White Lives Matter" or "Black Lives Matter" because it does not pertain to a particular candidate. 

But what should one do if they see someone wearing something that breaks the rules? 

According to Georgia's Poll Worker Manual, workers should be on the lookout for election attire violations as voters enter a polling place and as they wait in line. 

Therefore, the best course of action would be to report it to a poll worker and let them address the situation.