A Lee County poll worker was reportedly observed escorting at least one resident out of the polling center in Opelika for wearing merchandise supporting former President Donald Trump while they tried to cast their vote.
Polls across the state opened up Tuesday morning as residents flocked to their precincts to vote for their preferred candidates.
While there have been scattered reports of a few technical difficulties in various counties, Secretary of State Wes Allen's office told 1819 News that the office was reporting a "good turnout" early in the day.
However, reports coming out of Lee County claim that at least one poll worker was specifically targeting voters sporting apparel in support of Trump.
Lee County resident Forrest Miller reached out to 1819 News, claiming a poll worker at the Opelika Sports Plex was intentionally targeting Trump voters, even escorting one from the voting location.
"It was just regular people standing in line next to me and everybody else in the giant gymnasium where the polling center was," Miller told 1819 News. "And one of the female polls staffers just walked out into the middle of the basketball court and announced super loudly, 'If anybody's wearing a Trump hat, you need to take it off right now.' And everybody kind of just started looking around. I almost thought she wasn't being serious. I couldn't believe that she had said it. Then she said it again a second time and specifically was calling out anything Trump-related. It was never like, 'Hey. If you have any political endorsement apparel on or donning anything that has a candidate, you need to take it off.' No, it was like, 'If you're wearing a Trump hat or a Trump shirt, you need to take it off right now."
He continued, "She zeroes in on a woman in the line to my right and goes up to her. She was wearing just a regular red 'Make America Great Again' hat. [The poll worker] singles her out, takes her out of the line, pulls her over to the side and you could see them talking. And the next thing you know, within like five seconds, she's escorting this woman out of the polling center."
Alabama does not permit electioneering or campaigning within certain boundaries of a polling location. However, Allen's office said in a statement to 1819 News, "It is permissible for voters to wear campaign materials, apparel, pins, etc. to the polls, however poll workers and poll watchers are not allowed to do so."
1819 News reached out to Lee County Probate Judge Bill English, who acts as the Lee County election manager. A woman from English's office initially told 1819 News that the judge would likely not respond to the claims because he was "extremely wrapped up today."
However, English's office contacted 1819 News later, asking for the location of the alleged incident, promising that English would investigate the matter personally.
"[English] was not aware of those, and he is very concerned about them," an employee from English's office told 1819 News. "He's actually traveling poll to poll to make sure that everything is going correctly. He asked me to call you back to find out what polls you're getting these complaints from so he can personally go and check them out. That is not appropriate. It should not be happening. And as far as he and [Lee County Sheriff] Jay Jones are concerned, they haven't heard those complaints or seen them."
The Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) said it was "concerned' about the reports from Lee County, saying that wearing apparel supporting a preferred candidate is free speech protected by the Constitution.
"The Alabama Republican Party is concerned by reports that election officials in Lee County are escorting voters out of the Opelika Sportsplex precinct simply for wearing pro-Trump clothing and hats," ALGOP communications director Jeannie Burniston told 1819 News. "This is not electioneering—it is free speech, fully allowable under applicable law. Voters must be allowed to exercise their rights without unwarranted interference."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
