Millions of people have cast their ballots without incident so far this election. Though in some reported cases there have been issues with what voters are wearing to the polls.
With early voting underway in Bexar County, Texas, Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters recently that there have been several instances of voters wearing “inappropriate clothing” in support of a political candidate.
“That’s electioneering, and it’s certainly something that you’re not supposed to do,” Salazar said at a press briefing last month.
Things “got ugly” in one instance last month, he said, when a man allegedly punched a 69-year-old poll worker at an early voting site in San Antonio. The altercation occurred while the man was being escorted out of the site after being asked to remove a political hat, according to Salazar. The man was wearing a red “MAGA” or “Trump” baseball cap, according to an incident report.
“I can’t think of anything like this happening during my time here as sheriff,” Salazar said.At an early voting location in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, last week, a poll worker and voter got into an altercation after the voter was told to remove his “Let’s Go Brandon” hat, according to a police report and video of the incident.
In the video, the man can be heard saying, “It’s my [expletive] right” while holding up the hat, before tossing it. Amid the altercation, a poll worker allegedly punched the man in the face, according to the incident report. The poll worker was not arrested but was issued a summons.
The incidents draw attention to laws restricting forms of political activities in or near polling places to prohibit electioneering, or any activity intended to influence voting at an election.
