About 15 county residents who attended the county commissioners meeting Wednesday to demand the county agree to a forensic audit of the 2020 election argued with the county solicitor when he said those refusing to wear a mask during the meeting would have to leave.

Those not wearing a mask told solicitor Wil White that they should not be required to wear masks for a number of reasons, including it infringes upon their rights and social distancing was possible in the meeting room.

White repeated several times that masks were required during the meeting, and those who refused to wear them would be asked to leave.

But after a few minutes of the increasingly contentious back-and-forth between White and the residents, Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the board of commissioners, called the meeting to order.

The 15 people did not wear masks during the meeting or public comment session, when they again implored the commissioners to agree to an audit.

The commissioners gave their reasons for deciding against an audit at this time.

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