Authorities investigate dispute at early voting site in Orangeburg County

ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) – State authorities are still investigating after a fight at an early voting site in Orangeburg County. The man involved says the argument started over the hat he wore while voting that said, “Let's go, Brandon.”

WIS is trying to learn more about what led to the election Wednesday morning. Officials at the Orangeburg County Voter Registration Office had no comment.

“You know, this is just not a good situation,” one neighbor said.

Video sent to WIS shows a man in a hat arguing with poll workers at the early voting site at the Old Orangeburg County Library on Wednesday.

The man in the video filed a report with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

The incident report says the man told investigators he “had a difficult time entering the voting area because he was wearing a 'Let's Go, Brandon' hat.”

The man in the video declined our request for an interview.

We spoke to his neighbor who said he had been abused but should have left his hat at home.

“Be more aware of the situation; “My neighbor didn’t come in there yesterday with a hat and the intention of causing trouble,” the neighbor said. “His mother and his wife were with him, and no one was allowed to vote; They were all asked to leave.”

State law prohibits people from carrying or distributing campaign materials inside a polling place or within 500 feet of its entrance.

TJ Lundeen of the State Election Commission says the “Let's Go Brandon” message has political meaning and should not be worn to vote

“Anything that relates to political parties, candidates or anything like that,” Lundeen said. “We try to avoid situations like this. So if you have a question about this, proceed with caution and choose something else.”

The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety says no one has been arrested or charged. They say the case has been turned over to SLED.

WIS attempted to contact the poll worker in the video but was unable to make contact with her.

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