A brief, sharp video from a New Hampshire polling site shows a voter argue, curse, then swing a backhand across an 18-year-old activist’s face.
Story Snapshot
- Police in Laconia opened an investigation into an alleged assault outside a school polling site.
- Video posted online shows an older man arguing, flipping the bird, and backhanding a Turning Point Action member.
- New Hampshire’s top election official condemned assaults at polling places as unacceptable.
- Local party groups from both sides denounced the behavior and urged calm.
A slap caught on video outside a Laconia polling place
Police in Laconia said they are investigating an alleged assault outside the Woodland Heights School polling location. A clip shared online shows an older man cursing at a young Turning Point Action worker, raising his middle finger, and striking him with a backhand to the face. Local television and national outlets described the strike as a slap visible on the video. The man’s identity was not released. No arrest had been reported when the initial coverage ran.
Mediaite reported that the footage began mid-argument, with the man heated over claims about statistics and the activist’s comments. The older man stepped closer, gestured, then slapped the side of the young man’s face while saying “God****.” The Turning Point Action worker did not strike back in the clip. The location sat outside the legal buffer where campaigners can speak to voters, which is a common setup at schools used as polling places.
State and local officials urge order at the polls
New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan said he had spoken with the Turning Point Action member only minutes before the incident. He later received an alert that an assault happened and stated there is no place for assaults at polling locations. His office oversees election operations statewide and relies on local police to handle criminal conduct outside the polls. He underscored that voters must feel safe and undisturbed when they enter to cast a ballot.
Laconia’s mayor shared the video on Facebook, which drew fast attention from the community and state media. The Belknap County Republican Committee described an older male who engaged the teen verbally and then committed a “violent act.” The county Democratic committee also condemned the conduct, according to coverage, and called for peaceful civic engagement near polling places regardless of party. Cross-party statements like these help cool tensions after flashpoint moments.
What police are examining and what we do not yet know
Laconia police confirmed an active investigation and noted no charges had been filed at that time. Detectives will review video, talk to witnesses, and assess whether the contact meets the legal standard for assault under New Hampshire law. Reporters noted that neither the alleged assailant nor the young activist had been publicly named in police materials. Those details often appear later if charges are brought or if parties choose to speak on the record.
The national climate around elections helps explain why a short clip can ripple fast. A Brennan Center survey of 928 local election officials found that 38 percent reported threats, harassment, or abuse tied to their work, and a majority worried about staff safety. Those figures address election officials, not campaign staffers, but they show why states and towns emphasize safety at voting sites and nearby public areas.
Why this matters for civic norms and conservative common sense
Voters must be able to hear arguments without fear of getting hit. Conservative common sense says speech is not violence, and violence is never a substitute for debate. The video shows a young activist staying calm while an older man loses control. That is not strength; it is a failure of basic civics. Adults should model restraint for kids at the polls, even when tempers flare. Police work and due process will sort out charges, but the standard for conduct is already clear.
How communities can keep election-day peace
Local leaders can stage clear “no-go” lines for arguments near doorways and post simple rules: no touching, no blocking, no yelling at the entrance. Campaign groups can brief volunteers to create space, record incidents, and call police rather than argue in circles. Police can increase short, visible walk-throughs during peak hours. Simple moves like these lower the chance that a heated word turns into a shove or a slap. Calm is a habit that spreads person to person.
Sources:
mediaite.com, wmur.com, dailymail.com, the-express.com
