An altercation occurred at an early voting site in South Carolina between a voter and an election worker, potentially leading to assault charges. The incident took place in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, where a man wearing a 'Let's go Brandon' hat attempted to vote. Poll workers informed him that wearing clothing displaying political affiliation is prohibited in polling places in South Carolina, as in 21 other states.
In a witness-recorded video, the man can be seen cursing at poll workers and throwing his hat aside in defiance. The situation escalated, with the man demanding to be allowed to vote despite the rules. Poll workers tried to de-escalate the confrontation and asked him to leave, but tensions continued to rise.
At one point in the video, a female poll worker appeared to use her hand to strike the man in the face, leading to accusations of assault and battery in the third degree. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety filed an incident report, prompting an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The incident stemmed from the 'Let's go Brandon' chant, which originated after NASCAR driver Brandon Brown's victory at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama in October 2021. During an interview with Brown, the crowd began chanting 'F**k Joe Biden,' which was misinterpreted by the reporter as 'Let's go Brandon.' This misinterpretation fueled right-wing supporters' belief in media bias and reluctance to acknowledge anti-Biden sentiment.
The investigation into the altercation at the South Carolina early voting site is ongoing, with SLED looking into the matter further. As more details emerge, the implications of the incident on voter conduct and election worker safety will likely be scrutinized.
