SLED investigates dispute over voter’s ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ hat • SC Daily Gazette

Voters are not allowed to wear campaign clothing at polling stations. It’s a law, not a courtesy, that sparked a scuffle at an Orangeburg County early election site that is being investigated by state law enforcement.

But the phrase in the hat that started the dispute could be legal following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

State law does not allow campaign materials within 500 feet of a polling place entrance. That rule is not limited to candidates. It also means voters cannot express their support for anyone on the ballot by handing out or wearing hats, shirts, buttons, pins, posters and flyers.

The State Election Commission has posted posters at every polling station to remind voters of these rules.

In Orangeburg County on Wednesday, a voter wouldn’t take off his hat that read, “Let’s Go Brandon,” according to WIS-TV. (It’s a phrase that became popular last October among fans of former President Donald Trump as a replacement for using profanity about Biden.)

An argument escalated between the voter and poll workers. After swearing and being told he couldn’t vote, the voter threw his hat at the bystander in line who was videotaping the dispute. He turned around and confronted a poll worker who told him to leave. She appears to hit him, and people intervened to stop him, according to the video circulating on social media.

A spokeswoman for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed Thursday that it is investigating the scuffle. It could be the first SLED investigation into conflict at the ballot box for this general election. Spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich knew of no others.

According to state law, poll workers shall “use all reasonable means” to keep polling places “clear of political literature and displays” within 500 feet of the entrance. At the request of poll workers, law enforcement officials will remove anything “distributed or on display” that violates the law.

Voters who show up to a polling place wearing campaign clothing will be asked to remove or cover it so it is not visible to other voters, according to a spokesperson for the state election commission.

Poll workers were trained not to allow “Let’s Go Brandon” attire as electioneering, Howard Knapp, director of the state Election Commission, told The Post and Courier. However, because Biden is no longer on the ballot, he believes the phrase is no longer against the law, he told the newspaper.

There are other legal no-nos at the ballot box.

State law also prohibits people from carrying a gun into a polling place. Having a concealed handgun permit does not exempt voters from that law.

Voters also cannot show their ballot paper to anyone. This includes taking a photo, so selfies at the polls are not allowed.

Early voting continues statewide through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. When polls closed Wednesday, 1.1 million South Carolinians had voted early in person.

On election day, all precincts are open at 7 a.m. The cutoff for anyone to join is 7pm. Anyone currently in line can remain in line for as long as it takes to vote.

NoCampaignMaterials_SEC BSL 2072-202209