Westchester County, N.Y., ballot scanners reject paper ballots on Election Day

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times - Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Ballot scanners across Westchester County, New York, are rejecting paper ballots on Election Day.

The county Board of Elections said an issue involving paper ballots is preventing voting machines from accepting them at polling places throughout the county.

Voting machines at polling locations across the suburban county began rejecting ballots Tuesday morning, not long after polling locations opened, prompting municipalities to alert residents that scanners were not accepting ballots.

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The cause is unclear.

The county initially said the thickness of the paper ballots was the problem, but later removed that explanation from its statement.

Voters whose ballots cannot be scanned are being told to place them in designated orange emergency ballot bags, which the board said will remain secure and be counted under election procedures.

Ballots collected in the emergency bags will be counted after polls close at 9 p.m., which may cause a delay in final results for local races, including the competitive contest in New York’s 17th Congressional District between Democratic nominee Cait Conley and Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler.

Both candidates called on voters to stay in line amid the technical problems.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Democrat, said in a video message that there is “not a need at this point” to extend voting hours.

Mr. Jenkins and Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James have assured voters that every ballot will be counted.

Mr. Jenkins said county officials have been directed to monitor the voting process and ensure that voters can cast their ballots without interference.

Voters are urged to stay in line, cast their ballots and not leave polling locations.

“Once these issues are resolved, I will convene a bipartisan team to conduct a thorough review of the decisions and failures that led to this debacle, determine where accountability lies and ensure that this never happens again,” Mr. Jenkins said in a statement. “Westchester County voters deserve a fair, secure and seamless election process.”