Westchester Board of Elections blames ballot thickness for scanner failures

Voting machines across Westchester County rejected ballots on Tuesday morning due to paper thickness.

The Westchester County Board of Elections identified the physical dimensions of the paper as the root cause of the glitch. The issue caused scanners at polling locations to reject ballots, forcing a countywide operational adjustment. Officials confirmed that the malfunction affects machines in multiple municipalities, including the Town of North Salem. Despite the technical failure, the board stated that every ballot cast will be counted.

Residents in affected areas received alerts that their scanners were not accepting ballots. Election officials advised voters to remain at their polling places while technicians worked to resolve the issue. The board clarified that voting remained operational throughout the day. They urged the public not to leave their lines, ensuring that the process continued despite the hardware rejection.

Voters who encountered the scanner error were directed to place their ballots in designated orange emergency ballot bags. These bags serve as a temporary holding vessel for the rejected votes. Officials stated that the bags remain secure and are monitored throughout the day. The ballots inside will be counted in accordance with standard election procedures once the immediate technical issue is addressed.

The disruption occurs in Westchester County, a key battleground for New York's 17th Congressional District. The race pits Democratic challenger Cait Conley against Republican Representative Mike Lawler. Both candidates used social media to reassure constituents that the technical issues would not impact their ability to vote. Conley posted that voters could still cast their ballots and that every vote was being counted. Lawler echoed this sentiment, urging voters to stay in line and not leave without voting. He noted that officials were determining whether the fault lay with the ballots or the machines.

The Board of Elections said it is in constant communication with New York state officials, county leaders, and poll workers. Technicians are on the ground working to restore normal operations to the voting equipment. The board apologized for the disruption and reiterated that the issue should not discourage participation. They emphasized that every eligible vote will be counted, aiming to maintain voter confidence in the process despite the morning's technical hurdles.