Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney tried to vote on Election Day in South Carolina, but was initially denied a ballot as he was told that he had already cast his vote.
Swinney explained in a press conference on Tuesday that he was told he had been sent an early ballot that was being counted, but that he had not himself sent in a ballot. Swinney’s full first name is William, and he believes that his son – who is also named William – may have been recognized as Dabo’s vote.
Swinney joked that he wasn’t being allowed to vote after Clemson lost to Louisville.
“I’m like ‘dang, they done voted me out of the state! Lost a game. We’re 6-2 and 5-1 and man, they done shipped me off.
He said I’d already voted. And I was like ‘no, I can assure you I hadn’t voted.’
‘Well it says we issued you an early ballot and you voted.’ I’m like ‘no…’
And as it turns out, Will, my oldest, voted last week. And they somehow messed it up, didn’t verify his birthday or something. They counted me as the vote.
…. What was going to take 10 minutes took an hour. Next thing I’m on the phone with some director, I think her name was Amy. Super sweet lady. And she’s trying to tell me this whole process. There’s going to be some hearing on Friday. I had to do a paper ballot… It was quite an experience this morning. But apparently they’re going to fix it on Friday, and me and Will, our two votes will count on Friday.”