Man charged after punching a 69-year-old poll worker who told him to take off his MAGA hat, BCSO says

SAN ANTONIO — A man was arrested Thursday after attacking a 69-year-old poll worker at a Southwest Side polling station, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.

According to a preliminary report from BCSO, Jesse Lutzenberger, 63, entered a polling station at the Johnston Branch Library around 6:30 p.m. wearing a red Make America Great Again baseball cap. 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 particular candidate, party or measure within 100 feet of a polling place. The crime of canvassing is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The poll worker asked Lutzenberger to take off his hat as he entered the building, Salazar said during a news conference.

At first, Lutzenberger gave in, took off his hat and started voting, Salazar said. But after the 63-year-old voted, he put his hat back on as he left the building, the sheriff said.

The poll worker tried to escort Lutzenberger out and again asked him to take off his hat, the incident report said. Lutzenberger struck the 69-year-old several times in the face and chest, BCSO said.

The poll worker suffered a scratch on his left cheek, the BCSO preliminary report said.

He was treated at the scene by EMS before the employee was released, Bexar County elections director Jacque Callanen said during a news conference Thursday.

The 63-year-old man left the polling station, but deputies went to his home later Thursday.

When they arrived, the man came out and told officers he was the one they were looking for, Salazar said.

He was charged with elder injury, a third-degree felony, according to court records.

He is currently lodged in the Bexar County Jail on a $30,000 bond, according to jail records.

Callanen reminded voters that they are not allowed to wear campaign paraphernalia such as shirts, hats, buttons or swag into the voting booth.

Bexar County Judge Sakai released a statement regarding the incident:

“Violence has no place in our electoral process. This type of behavior will absolutely not be tolerated. We will not allow anyone to disrupt the electoral process. Elections Director Jacque Callanen, her staff and election officials are doing an outstanding job of accommodating record-breaking early voting turnout. They deserve recognition for their efforts. The vast majority of voters behave responsibly and respectfully. We want to protect and defend the right to vote of all citizens eligible to vote. Let’s respect everyone involved in our voting process.”

Callanen said some of the election judges will take jackets to the polls for voters to wear in case someone wears a shirt with a particular candidate's picture on it. Callanen said some voters are asked to go to the bathroom and turn their shirt inside out or even tape a sample ballot to the front of their shirt.

“You may see some voters who are dissatisfied … but we have to stay within the law so that no one is intimidated and everyone can come and vote freely,” Callanen said.

She also said voters cannot discuss policy preferences while waiting in line to vote.

Early voting for record start in Bexar County

The library is located at 6307 Sun Valley Dr. and is one of 51 polling locations open during the early voting period in Bexar County.

On Thursday, 896 ballots were cast locally. Callanen said the polling place was open for early voting on Friday.

Early voting began Monday, and 191,362 votes have been cast in Bexar County so far, according to the Bexar County elections office.

On Thursday, the fourth day of early voting, polling places in Bexar County recorded the highest number of ballots cast in a single day to date: 48,653.

Callanen said “our polling places are safe” and urged people to be patient and prepared.

>> Here's where to vote early in Bexar County for the Nov. 5 election

Registered voters in Bexar County can vote at any polling place during early voting and on Election Day. Early voting ends November 1stand it is election day November 5th.

If you are not sure if you are registered, you can click here to check.

Get more election coverage KSAT's Vote 2024 page..

Coverage of the 2024 vote: