This SC county was the only one to ban BLM and MAGA t-shirts at the polls. Here’s what happened

So, you want to wear your MAGA or BLM shirt to vote?

Come on in.

That’s new guidance for Greenville County, the only county in the state that considered such apparel campaign literature.

On Monday, Conway Belangia, the director of the Greenville County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, sent a memo to poll workers saying the American Civil Liberties Union weighed in on politically themed apparel in polling places.

He said he reversed the policy after consulting with them and the Greenville County attorney.

Chris Whitmire of the State Elections Commission told The State Wednesday, “Greenville should not have had this policy in place. The SEC was unaware that Greenville had their own policy that violated the SEC policy. It appears the recent revision has brought their policy in line with the SEC and the 45 other counties.”

In his memo to poll workers, Belangia said, “We recognize these items may cause issues at polling places where differences of opinion among voters, poll workers will have to be more diligent to maintain decorum and not allow verbal exchanges between individual supporters of the groups that want to influence voters with the display of these items.”

Among his parting words?

“Do your best to be accommodating while conducting this election.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2022 at 12:45 PM.