Westchester Election: Emergency Ballot Counting Continues After Machine Failure
Election officials are manually scanning tens of thousands of paper ballots after a technical glitch halted machines across the county on Election Day.
By Vincent Parker ·
Westchester County is still counting votes from Tuesday’s election as officials process emergency paper ballots.
A technical issue involving paper feeders prevented voting machines from accepting ballots at nearly all polling locations in the county. The Westchester County Board of Elections reported that the malfunction occurred on Election Day. Officials stated they began addressing the problem immediately while ensuring residents could continue voting.
Staff implemented emergency protocols to keep polling places open. Voters completed their ballots on paper, which were then placed in secure designated bags. The board said it would count every properly cast ballot and avoid turning voters away or asking them to return later.
The board issued an update on Nov. 5 regarding the ongoing tabulation process. The bipartisan group acknowledged the "frustration, confusion and inconvenience" the situation caused for voters, poll workers, and election officials. The statement emphasized that the board remains committed to accurate counting and maintaining the integrity of the process.
Election workers are currently using ballot scanners to tabulate the emergency ballots. The board indicated that the counting process will continue daily until all tens of thousands of set-aside ballots are processed. Officials noted that the work requires careful attention to detail and thorough verification to ensure every valid ballot is properly handled.
The board said its primary responsibility is to process the ballots accurately rather than provide immediate results. The update offered no specific timeline for when the final tally will be completed. The next scheduled step is the continued daily scanning of the remaining paper ballots.
