Overview
- Most ballot scanners in Westchester began rejecting completed paper ballots when polls opened on Tuesday, forcing machines at many sites to stop accepting votes.
- Poll workers instructed voters to remain in line, complete paper ballots and place them in secured orange emergency ballot bags that will be monitored and counted later.
- The Westchester Board of Elections first cited ballot thickness but removed that explanation and now says vendors and state officials are working together to determine the root cause.
- The malfunction could delay results in the tight NY-17 race between Rep. Mike Lawler and Cait Conley because Westchester supplies about 30% of the district’s votes.
- County and state leaders including the attorney general are assuring voters every ballot will be counted while some Republican figures quickly alleged wrongdoing and nearby counties reported no similar problems.