ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - State authorities are still investigating after a fight at an early voting location in Orangeburg County.

Video sent to WIS shows a man wearing a hat, arguing with poll workers at the early voting location Wednesday at the old Orangeburg County library.

According to an incident report from Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS), the man involved told officers the argument started over the hat he wore to vote that said, “Let’s go Brandon.”

The man – who filed the report with ODPS – claimed he was “punched in the face by a county employee that was working the polls,” the incident report said.

While the incident report contained a great deal of the man’s account, as well as the person who took the video, almost the entirety of the poll worker’s account to officers was redacted.

The incident report also showed the poll worker was issued a summons for third degree assault and battery but was not arrested.

You can read the incident report here:

24-02609_Redacted by Bea Parrillaa on Scribd

WIS is trying to learn more about what led up to the fight at the polls.

Officials with the Orangeburg County Voter Registration Office wouldn’t comment.

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

WIS spoke to his neighbor, who said although he thought he was mistreated, he should have left his hat at home.

“Be more aware of the situation; my neighbor did not walk in there with the hat on and intention to stir up trouble yesterday,” the neighbor said. “His mother and his wife were with him, and nobody was allowed to vote; they were all asked to leave.”

State law prohibits people from wearing or distributing campaign material in a polling place or within 500 feet of its entrance.

TJ Lundeen with the State Election Commission said the message ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ has a political meaning behind it and shouldn’t be worn to vote.

“Anything that references political parties, candidates, those kinds of things,” Lundeen said. “We are trying to avoid any of those situations so if you have a question about it, I would air on the side of caution and pick something else out.”

ODPS said the case has been turned over to SLED.

WIS tried to contact the poll worker in the video but couldn’t get in touch with her.

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Disaster Recovery Centers will open in Kershaw and Orangeburg counties to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Disaster Recovery Centers will open in Kershaw, Laurens and Orangeburg counties to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.

Kershaw CountyKershaw County Government Center515 Walnut St.Camden, SC 29020

Open Nov. 1-10, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Laurens CountyLaurens County Public Library1017 W. Main St.Laurens, SC 29360

Open Nov. 1-3, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Nov. 7-10, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Nov. 4-6.

Orangeburg CountyOrangeburg YMCA2550 St. Matthews Road NEOrangeburg, SC 29118

Open Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.

To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362.

Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.

The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.

FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Orangeburg native Dr. Walter B. Curry Jr., founder of Renaissance Publications, LLC, is the recipient of FY25 South Carolina Arts Commission Arts Project Support grant.

The funds will support Curry's forthcoming project titled "Through the Antebellum Period, Civil War, The Reconstruction Era & Beyond." This initiative will feature an exhibition narrating the life of his ancestor, Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison, who was born into slavery on Nov. 20, 1849, in Aiken County.

The exhibition aims to provide a well-contextualized account of Martha's life, emphasizing the historical backdrop of South Carolina during the antebellum period and the Civil War, which overlapped with her experience of enslavement. Additionally, it will offer insights into her journey during the Reconstruction Era across Barnwell, Orangeburg, and Aiken Counties, detailing the noteworthy events that shaped her life during this transformative period. It will also explore developments in her life from the post-Reconstruction era through the Gilded Age, spanning from 1875 to 1900. This approach will not only honor her legacy but also enrich the understanding of the broader historical context of her times.

The exhibition will include a variety of items, such as replicas, artifacts, natural specimens, visual representations, and food samples that reflect the life of Martha and her family. It will highlight noteworthy events from the chapter titled "Through Slavery, War, The Reconstruction Era & Beyond: The Story of Martha Kitchings Seawright Ellison" found in the book "The Awakening: the Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1." This curated collection aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical context surrounding Martha's experiences. By incorporating diverse elements, the exhibition seeks to engage visitors and foster a deeper appreciation for the family's legacy. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the intricate narratives woven throughout the chapter, gaining insight into the challenges and triumphs faced during pivotal moments in history.

The exhibition will be included in Curry's initiative, Renaissance Publications & Educational Services, LLC, as part of the Author-In-Residence program within schools. This program aims to immerse students in the exploration of South Carolina and United States history, emphasizing local and African American narratives. The objectives of the program are to enhance students' understanding of historical contexts by integrating visual art and direct activities. This approach seeks to create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the subject matter actively. By fostering interactions with visual art and experiential learning, the program aims to enrich the study of both South Carolina and United States history, particularly through the lens of local and African American experiences.

The exhibition receives funding from the Arts Project Support Grants, which aim to assist artists and organizations in enhancing the quality of their arts projects, marketing efforts, and events, as well as fostering their artistic development. Eligibility for these grants extends to artists, nonprofit organizations, and government entities. To learn more and apply, visit https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/aps/.

To learn more about Curry’s work, visit www.renaissancepubllc.com or email at renaissancepublicationsllc@gmail.com.

A fight erupted at an early voting location in South Carolina when a supporter of former President Donald Trump refused to take off their "Make America Great Again" hat.

The incident saw the Trump supporter fight with poll workers who asked him to take off the hat in Orangeburg County, in line with state rules restricting the portrayal of campaign promotions within polling stations.

In clips of the altercation that quickly went viral on social media, the disgruntled voter can be heard calling a poll worker who explained the rule to him a "f****** b****", before gesturing to his cap and saying, "this is my m******** right, right here."

The voter then took off his cap and threw it out of the voting area, before tapping one of the poll workers on the head, prompting them to slap him in return.

The conflict escalated as the voter began following the worker around the room, with other staff intervening to separate the two people. The voter was then escorted out of the building.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said that they were investigating the incident. Newsweek contacted Orangeburg County officials for an update on the situation.

According to South Carolina state regulations, voters are not allowed to wear anything that displays a political party, candidate name or ballot issue.

The law reads: "The poll manager shall use every reasonable means to keep the area within five hundred feet of any such entrance clear of political literature and displays, and the county and municipal law enforcement officers, upon request of a poll manager, shall remove or cause to be removed any material within five hundred feet of any such entrance distributed or displayed in violation of this section."

Early voting in the state started on October 21 and will continue for two more days until November 2. After that, South Carolinians will only be able to vote on Election Day itself.

Read more 2024 Election

Almost 60 million Americans have voted early in the 2024 election. More than 25.2 million people voting in person, while 23.4 million people have returned a mail-in ballot. More than 66.4 million mail-in ballots have been requested nationwide.

Early voting is available in all except two states; Alabama and Mississippi. In these southern states, voters need an approved reason to register for an absentee ballot.

Due to the pandemic, 70 percent of voters used alternatives to in-person voting in the 2020 election.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.

A fight erupted at a South Carolina polling station after a man was told to remove his “Let’s Go Brandon” hat by poll workers before voting, shocking footage shows.

The man attempted to cast his vote at the old Orangeburg County Library on Wednesday while wearing a camo hat with the expression widely used as shorthand for “F–k Joe Biden.”

He began cursing at poll workers who told him he had to take it off under South Carolina state law.

Video obtained by WIS-TV shows poll workers asking the man to take the cap “outside” before he begins cursing at them.

“You f–cking bitch,” he tells one woman, as the other workers tell him to calm down.

“Shut the hell up and let me vote!” he yells.

Another female poll worker explains again that they cannot let him vote, and the man removes his hat and hurls it at the person next in line, the clip shows.

The man points his finger in the woman’s face and says something to her, who then begins to hit him.

The poll workers separate the pair initially but the man swings his arms and breaks through and starts to go after the woman who hit him, who exits through a door, video shows.

“Take him outside!” one poll worker repeatedly yells.

Under South Carolina Law, voters are not permitted to wear anything that displays a political party, candidate name or ballot issue.

Although the hat did not name the president — who is not up for reelection — the phrase has been common shorthand since 2021, when an NBC reporter interviewing NASCAR driver Brandon Brown thought chants of “F–k Joe Biden” were “Let’s Go Brandon.”

“The poll manager shall use every reasonable means to keep the area within five hundred feet of any such entrance clear of political literature and displays,” the law states.

“The county and municipal law enforcement officers, upon request of a poll manager, shall remove or cause to be removed any material within five hundred feet of any such entrance distributed or displayed in violation of this section,” it says.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed to the Post that it investigating the incident but declined to provide additional details.

Early voting in the Palmetto State kicked off on Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 2.