Election bureau: Dukes followed rules inside Adams Township building with voting precinct
With both candidates under a spotlight in yesterday’s state House special election, questions were raised after the Democratic candidate was seen wearing campaign merchandise in the building where a voting precinct was located.
However, the county elections bureau was not alarmed by the video.
Brandon Dukes, the unofficial winner of the 12th House District of Pennsylvania special election, was filmed on election day inside a building that contained a voting precinct Tuesday, Aug. 18, while wearing a campaign button, causing backlash from some Republicans.
The Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee posted the video on its X account just before noon on election day showing Dukes while walking through the Adams Ridge Clubhouse, which held the Adams Township 1 voting precinct. The video’s caption alleged Dukes was ignoring election laws posted on the building’s front door.
“Another clear Democrat election violation with a smile and a wave?” the Republican campaign committee’s post was captioned.
The video was widely viewed and reposted thousands of times on social media, with comments claiming Dukes was cheating and advocating for his arrest. In one instance, the video was shared by Scott Presler, a conservative political activist. The video on Presler’s post was viewed over 160,000 times.
Butler County Bureau of Elections director Chantell McCurdy said the judge of elections at the precinct, who happens to be an attorney, was immediately notified of Dukes entering the building.
McCurdy said, however, Dukes was not breaking any election laws by being inside the public building while wearing a campaign button — provided he was not in the voting area or interacting with voters.
“The candidate used the bathroom facilities and did not in any way approach voters,” McCurdy said. “He also was not campaigning, and the area he was in is not anywhere near the voting area.”
She said the door that could be seen in the video is the bathroom closest to the entrance of the clubhouse, which is a public building.
“It is nowhere near the voting area, the check-in area or the voters themselves,” McCurdy said.
Voters themselves are also allowed inside voting precincts while wearing campaign merchandise provided they do not discuss or campaign for their preferred candidate.
Poll watchers, who receive training from the election bureau and their respective political parties, are allowed to be inside the precinct but may not wear campaign merchandise.
Poll workers also may not have any campaign merchandise inside the precinct.
Democrat candidate Brandon Dukes CAUGHT coming out of a polling place wearing his campaign gear while ignoring the election law postings right in front of him.
— Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee (@PennHRCC) August 18, 2026
Another clear Democrat election violation with a smile and a wave?
Looking forward to a Special Edition on this topic… pic.twitter.com/eTLGmxSQk2
