Overview
- Most Westchester ballot scanners began rejecting ballots when polls opened on Tuesday, prompting poll workers to switch to paper-ballot contingency procedures.
- The Westchester County Board of Elections attributed the rejections to ballot paper thickness that prevents machines from accepting the sheets.
- Voters were told to remain in line, fill out paper ballots, and put any unscannable ballots into designated orange emergency bags that will be kept secure and counted later.
- County and New York State election officials are working with voting-machine vendors and technicians to diagnose and fix the problem but have given no timetable for restored scanner service.
- The disruption drew attention because Westchester is central to the competitive 17th Congressional District race and could lead to post-election reconciliation or review of ballot specifications and vendor procedures.