Columbia, S.C. — Yesterday, an incident occurred in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, involving a voter who poll workers asked to remove a hat displaying political campaign material before voting, as required by Section 7-25-180 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Instead of complying, the individual verbally attacked the precinct staff, ultimately escalating into a physical altercation.
The NAACP Lower Richland Branch and the Sierra Club South Carolina Chapter strongly condemn this unwarranted aggression toward election workers and offer full support to those impacted by the incident. Both organizations call on all political parties to denounce this act of violence and urge the South Carolina State Board of Elections to enhance security measures at polling locations statewide to ensure the safety of election workers and voters until all ballots in South Carolina are counted securely.
Montravias King, Chapter Director of the Sierra Club South Carolina, remarked, "As a grassroots environmental advocacy organization dedicated to democracy, we believe that addressing the climate crisis and advancing environmental justice relies on a robust democratic process. Yesterday's event in Orangeburg is a disturbing reminder of what's at stake nationwide. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and intimidation at the polls is unacceptable."
Dr. Dawn Mills Campbell, President of the NAACP Lower Richland Branch, added, "What occurred yesterday toward these Black women working at the precinct, who were simply performing their civic duty, is painfully
reminiscent of past injustices. Yet, like a tree planted by the water, we stand firm and will not be moved."
The Sierra Club South Carolina Chapter and the NAACP Lower Richland Branch remain committed to ensuring safe, fair, and accessible elections. We urge all South Carolinians to report any acts of election interference or intimidation promptly.
For assistance, South Carolina voters who experience election-related issues are encouraged to contact Election Protection at 866-687-8683 or to report incidents to the NAACP Voter Protection Team at www.naacp.org.