SAN ANTONIO – A man was arrested Thursday after he assaulted a 69-year-old elections worker at a Southwest Side polling location, according to the Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
Jesse Lutzenberger, 63, entered a polling location at the Johnston Branch Library around 6:30 p.m. and was wearing a red Make America Great Again baseball cap, according to a preliminary report from BCSO. The phrase has been used as Trump’s campaign slogan for years.
Texas law prohibits voters from wearing clothing or accessories that support or oppose a specific candidate, party or measure within 100 feet of a polling location. The offense of electioneering is a Class C misdemeanor with up to a $500 fine.
The elections clerk told Lutzenberger to remove his hat as he entered the building, Salazar said during a press conference.
Initially, Lutzenberger complied and removed the hat and proceeded to vote, Salazar said. However, after the 63-year-old man voted he put his hat back on as he was leaving the building, the sheriff said.
The elections clerk attempted to escort Lutzenberger out and asked him again to remove the hat, according to the incident report. That’s when Lutzenberger punched the 69-year-old man several times in the face and chest, BCSO said.
The poll worker sustained a scratch on his left cheek, the preliminary report from BCSO states.
He received treatment by Emergency Medical Services at the location before the clerk was released, said Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen during a news conference on Thursday.
The 63-year-old man left the polling location but deputies went to his home later Thursday.
When they arrived, the man came outside and told deputies he was the one they were looking for, Salazar said.
He was charged with injury to the elderly, a third-degree felony, according to court records.
He currently is booked at the Bexar County Jail with a $30,000 bond, according to jail records.
Callanen reminded voters that they cannot wear campaign paraphernalia to the voting booth, such as a shirt, hat, button, or swag.
Bexar County Judge Sakai released a statement regarding the incident:
“Violence has no place in our elections process. This type of behavior will absolutely not be tolerated. We will not allow anyone to disrupt the election process. Election Administrator Jacque Callanen, her staff, and the election officials are doing an excellent job accommodating what so far has been a record turnout for early voting. They are to be applauded for their efforts. The overwhelming number of people casting their ballots are behaving responsibly and respectfully. We want to protect and defend the right to vote for all citizens who are eligible to vote. Let’s respect everyone who is involved in our voting process.”
Callanen said some of the election judges will take jackets to polling sites for voters to wear in case people are wearing a shirt that features a particular candidate. Callanen said that some voters will be asked to go to the bathroom and turn the shirt inside out or even tape a sample ballot to the front of their shirt.
“You may see some voters that aren’t happy … but we need to remain within the law so that no one is intimidated and everyone can come and vote freely,” Callanen said.
She also said that voters cannot discuss political preferences while waiting in line to vote.
Early voting off to record start in Bexar County
The library, located at 6307 Sun Valley Dr., is one of 51 polling locations open during the early voting period in Bexar County.
On Thursday, 896 ballots were cast at the site. Callanen said the polling location is open Friday for early voting.
Early voting started on Monday, and so far, 191,362 votes have been cast in Bexar County, according to numbers from the Bexar County elections office.
On Thursday, the fourth day of early voting, Bexar County polling locations had the highest number of ballots cast so far in a single day: 48,653.
Callanen said “our poll sites are safe” and asked people to pack patience and be prepared.
>> Here’s how, where to vote early in Bexar County for the Nov. 5 election
Registered voters in Bexar County can vote at any polling site during the early voting period and Election Day. Early voting ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 5.
If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can click here to check.
Get more election coverage on KSAT’s Vote 2024 page.
Vote 2024 coverage: