Poet, 70, Arrested After Slapping Teen Volunteer at New Hampshire Polling Place

A 70-year-old poet was arrested in Laconia, New Hampshire, after he allegedly slapped an 18-year-old Turning Point Action volunteer outside a polling place on Election Day, police said. Stephen Redic was taken into custody at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, and charged with misdemeanour simple assault and violation-level disorderly conduct.

The confrontation, captured on video that spread widely online, happened outside Woodland Heights Elementary School in Laconia, on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Police said Redic approached the Turning Point tent as he was leaving, and a debate that followed ended with him striking the teenager and walking away.

Key Points

• Stephen Redic, 70, a poet from Laconia, New Hampshire, was arrested at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4.
• He is charged with misdemeanour simple assault and violation-level disorderly conduct after allegedly backhanding an 18-year-old Turning Point Action volunteer outside Woodland Heights Elementary School on Election Day.
• Police said Redic approached the tent as he was leaving and wanted "to read a poem about rich people" before a debate turned angry.
• The incident was captured on video that spread widely online, and Redic has admitted his actions were "inexcusable", according to reports.
• Redic is due for arraignment in Laconia District Court on December 10, 2026, and published a poetry book, "Tying My Shoes", in 2023.

What Happened

According to Laconia police, Redic was leaving the polling place on Tuesday, November 3, when he stopped at the Turning Point Action tent outside. He said he wanted to read them a poem about rich people, and a debate followed.

Police said the exchange grew heated. Redic gave the 18-year-old volunteer the middle finger and then slapped him across the face, before walking away from the scene. The teenager volunteers with Turning Point Action, the organising arm of Turning Point USA.

Video of the confrontation circulated widely on social media, drawing condemnation from across the political spectrum. Police identified Redic from the footage and arrested him the following morning. The volunteer was not seriously injured, and no one else was charged.

Background: A Polling Place, a Poem and a Heated Debate

The incident took place on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when Americans voted in midterm elections for control of Congress, dozens of governors' races and thousands of local contests. Campaign volunteers worked outside polling places across the country, handing out literature and talking to voters.

Turning Point Action volunteers were among the groups working polling places in New Hampshire, a state known for close elections. The organisation, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has built a large volunteer network. The slap came just over a year after Kirk himself was assassinated at Utah Valley University in September 2025, an event that made the safety of Turning Point's staff and volunteers a prominent public concern.

Redic is a published poet. In 2023 he released a collection titled "Tying My Shoes", in which he wrote that he had met every president of the United States since Dwight D. Eisenhower.

New Hampshire Polling Place Slap: What Police Say

Laconia police have described the sequence of events in straightforward terms. Redic approached the tent, asked to read a poem about rich people, debated with the volunteers, grew angry, made an obscene gesture and struck the teenager in the face before leaving. The video supports that account, showing the slap and Redic walking away.

Redic himself has not disputed the core of the account. According to reports, he admitted his actions were "inexcusable" and apologised. It was not immediately clear whether he has hired a lawyer, and police have not commented further beyond confirming the charges.

Under New Hampshire law, simple assault is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in jail, while a violation-level disorderly conduct charge carries a fine but no jail time. Prosecutors will decide in the coming weeks whether to pursue both charges or seek a plea deal.

Reactions

Reaction to the video was swift and largely unanimous. Commentators and politicians on both sides condemned striking a teenager over a political disagreement, and Turning Point supporters shared the clip widely.

Redic's own reported words were the most striking part of the aftermath. By calling his actions "inexcusable" and apologising, he undercut any suggestion that the slap was justified by the argument that preceded it. No public statement from the volunteer or from Turning Point Action's national leadership has been reported.

Why It Matters

The arrest matters for three reasons. First, it is a reminder that political violence is not confined to rallies, campuses or online arguments. It can happen in the most ordinary civic setting of all, outside an elementary school on the day people vote. An assault outside one on Election Day carries a symbolic weight beyond the injury itself.

Second, the speed of the arrest shows how video has changed these cases. The clip spread online within hours, and police had him in custody the next morning. Third, the case lands in a country still reckoning with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Turning Point's volunteers are young, often teenagers, working in public places where they are easy targets. Both sides will watch how the justice system handles it.

What Happens Next

Redic is due to be arraigned in Laconia District Court on December 10, 2026. At arraignment, he will be formally told of the charges against him and asked to enter a plea. If he pleads not guilty, a trial date will be set.

Prosecutors may also consider whether the video evidence and Redic's reported admission make a plea agreement the likeliest outcome. Misdemeanour assault cases are often resolved without a trial, with a guilty plea, a fine and conditions such as staying away from the victim. Meanwhile, election officials will watch whether the incident prompts any change in how volunteers are protected at polling places.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Stephen Redic?
Stephen Redic is a 70-year-old poet from Laconia, New Hampshire. He published a poetry book, "Tying My Shoes", in 2023, saying he had met every US president since Dwight D. Eisenhower.

What is he charged with?
Redic is charged with misdemeanour simple assault and violation-level disorderly conduct after allegedly slapping an 18-year-old Turning Point Action volunteer outside a polling place on Election Day.

Where did the incident happen?
Outside Woodland Heights Elementary School in Laconia, New Hampshire, which was serving as a polling place. The confrontation happened at the Turning Point Action tent outside the school.

What did Redic say about it?
According to reports, Redic admitted his actions were "inexcusable" and apologised.

When is his court date?
Redic is due for arraignment in Laconia District Court on December 10, 2026, when he will be told of the charges and asked to enter a plea.

Read our earlier report on the University of Michigan campus incident in which activist Liz Benichou was shoved to the ground, Erika Kirk’s message to conservatives after the midterm losses and the Minnesota polling-place charges against James O’Keefe.