Westchester Vote: Machines Fail, Tally Paused

Westchester County election officials are still counting votes nearly two days after Election Day. A technical failure prevented voting machines from accepting paper ballots at nearly every polling location in the county on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Board of Elections has placed regular results on hold while staff process the emergency ballots using scanners.

The malfunction forced the county to activate emergency ballot protocols. Voters completed their paper ballots and placed them in secure emergency bags. These bags were collected for later processing rather than being scanned immediately at the polling place. Officials stated that the issue involved the paper feed mechanism in the machines.

In a Nov. 5 update, the Board acknowledged the disruption. The bipartisan group apologized for the frustration, confusion, and inconvenience caused to voters, poll workers, and officials. They emphasized that no voter was turned away or asked to return at a later time. Every properly cast ballot was secured for counting.

The Board said its primary responsibility is accurate processing. Staff are applying established safeguards and verification steps to the emergency ballots. The counting work requires careful attention to detail. This process is ongoing and will continue daily until the tally is complete.

Officials noted that the tens of thousands of emergency ballots are still being tabulated. The Board understands the public desire for immediate results. However, they prioritize ensuring every valid ballot is properly processed. The integrity of the election process is the main focus during this delay.

The county has not provided a specific deadline for when all votes will be counted. The Board remains committed to counting every valid ballot. The work continues in the days following the Nov. 3 election. Voters in Westchester are waiting for the final numbers as the manual counting proceeds.