Voter and election worker in South Carolina get into altercation over “Let’s go Brandon” hat

Voter and election worker in South Carolina get into altercation over “Let’s go Brandon” hat

A voter and an election worker in South Carolina got into an altercation at an early voting site on Wednesday, leading to possible assault charges.

In a witness-recorded video, a man can be seen wearing a “Let’s go Brandon” hat while attempting to vote in Orangeburg County, South Carolina — south of the capital of Columbia. Poll workers are heard in the video telling the man he can’t wear the hat since it advertises for a candidate. There are 21 states where it is illegal to wear clothing displaying political affiliation within polling places, including South Carolina.

In the video, tensions rise as the man curses at poll workers and eventually throws his hat off to the side demanding he be allowed to vote. Poll workers tried to calm the situation and asked him to leave. At one point in the video, a woman poll worker appears to use her hand to strike the man in the face. In an incident report from the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, the polling worker was accused of assault and battery in the third degree.

CNN has reached out to the voter, the election worker and the county election board for comment.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed to CNN they are investigating this incident. No other information was released at this time since the investigation was active and on going.

Context on “Let’s go Brandon”: The “Let’s Go Brandon” chant started after NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brandon Brown won his first career race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama in October 2021.

After the victory, Brown was being interviewed when the crowd started to chant, “F**k Joe Biden.” The reporter interviewing Brown said the crowd was instead chanting, “’Let’s go Brandon,’” which right-wing supporters took as evidence of the “fake news” media and its unwillingness to own up to the anti-Biden sentiment in the country.