‘Let’s Go Brandon’ hat sparks physical altercation at early voting site in Orangeburg, SC

An Orangeburg County poll worker struck a voter who was wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” hat in the face after a verbal altercation turned physical at an early voting site, according to a police report.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is actively investigating the incident. A viral video posted by a bystander in the early voting center at the Old County Library in Orangeburg on 510 Louis Street, shows the voter and poll workers verbally fighting and then a physical altercation.

According to an incident report by the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, the altercation occurred around 11 a.m. on Oct. 30. and cited a “simple assault,” then also referred to it as third degree assault and battery later in the report.

The report identified the voter as 54-year-Mark Allen Morris and the poll worker as 53-year-old Angela Buchannon-Glover.

Morris told authorities he was punched in the face by a county employee who was working the polls, according to the incident report. Before the altercation, he was asked to remove the hat by poll workers due to South Carolina state. The report said Morris had a “clear and very noticeable swelling under his left eye and red blood which had collected within the corner of his left eye.”

Morris said he was given a hard time in the voting area because he was wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” hat, the report said. He said “numerous members of the polling office seemed to be coming after him because of his hat,” the report stated.

Under South Carolina law, it is illegal to wear anything supporting a candidate whose name appears on the ballot. Wearing clothing with a general political message, however, is allowed.

Buchannon-Glover’s description of the event was heavily redacted in the incident report. Morris states that he wanted to press the issue in court, the report said.

Video footage shows the man cursing at poll workers after multiple of them tell him he can not be wearing the hat inside the polling location.

One of the poll workers says “listen, don’t curse at me.”

He then takes off his hat and motions at her with the hat and says, “listen it’s my (explicit) right, right here,” before putting the hat back on. The poll worker responds to him, “well, then take it outside.”

After more inaudible back and forth, the voter then says “all right then shut the hell up and let me vote,” the video shows.

Another poll worker, presumably Buchannon-Glover, tells the other poll worker, “it’s not necessary, we can not serve him,” and then proceeds to motion for the next voter in line.

The voter then takes off his hat and throws it toward the direction of the person filming.

One of the poll workers says “no, no, no,” as the video pans to the floor, and then Morris told the poll worker, “you better back up,” and seemed to point in her face before she struck him, the video shows.

After, multiple poll workers crowd around Buchannon-Glover and push back against the voter, according to the video.

Phone calls to Orangeburg County election office were not immediately returned.

Poll workers trained on de-escalation techniques

Howard Knapp, state Election Commission executive director, said they are reiterating techniques on de-escalation tactics to county poll workers.

“There are voters who may not understand the rules, and you know, just don’t match any aggression that you receive. Just stay as calm as possible,” Knapp said about what he and other election officials have told county election officials.

He also asks voters to be understanding that poll managers are just trying to do their job.

“Give your poll your managers the benefit of the doubt. Don’t assume they’re trying to disenfranchise you or do anything wrong,” Knapp said. “Everyone just needs to calm down.”

Knapp said SLED and other law enforcement agencies held statewide security workshop on workplace safety and de-escalation techniques before the election. They also did a state certified poll clerk program, which was three days of intensive training with security experts.

Knapp said it’s already difficult to get poll workers in general. There are always a percentage of poll workers and managers who are trained and scheduled to show up on election day and don’t show up.

“I can see these situations having an impact on poll managers just deciding, you know what, I’m not working. It’s not worth $6 an hour I get paid but we won’t know that until election day comes.”

“The $6 is what the state reimburses, the county can pay them whatever they decide,” Knapp said.

John Michael Catalano, South Carolina Election Commission spokesman, said poll worker recruitment is a challenge for any election. That’s not just South Carolina, that’s across the country.

“Sometimes people aren’t exactly the friendliest to people working in elections right now,” Catalano said. “Emotions can run high in elections, and sometimes that bleeds into treatment to voters, treatments of poll workers. And, you know, some people just don’t want to put up with that anymore.”

Some counties are still accepting poll worker applications this week, he added.

This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 5:01 PM.