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Vote-scanning machine malfunction expected to delay counting in New York’s Westchester County
A programming glitch stopped vote-scanning machines across Westchester County, New York, from accepting paper ballots when polls opened, delaying the count in a closely contested congressional race until at least Wednesday. A judge authorised election officials to move thousands of ballots to a secure warehouse for later scanning and counting.
Officials said a software update for one municipal contest was made after machines had been prepared and tested, leaving machines elsewhere unable to recognise the ballots. Voters were asked to place completed ballots in bags, which were to be transported under police escort and counted with political party representatives present. Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat Cait Conley urged people to vote and said all ballots would be counted.
In short
- A scanning glitch delayed counting in Westchester County.
- Thousands of ballots were secured for later processing.
- The delay affects a competitive congressional race.
Explained simply
Westchester County is in New York state, just north of New York City. It is divided into towns and cities, each of which runs local elections using paper ballots and machines that scan them.
The county’s election officials prepare and test the scanners before voting begins. A change to ballot software for one local contest can affect how scanners read ballots elsewhere, so officials must account for all votes and keep ballots secure while any problem is resolved.
Westchester is part of a congressional district represented by Mike Lawler, a Republican, and Cait Conley, a Democrat, is challenging him for the seat. The result matters to voters in the district and may affect which party holds power in the US House of Representatives.