UPDATE: Westchester Voting Machine Problems Traced To Election Programming Update

The voting machine problems across Westchester County stemmed from an election programming update made after initial equipment testing. A change affecting one municipality required updated programming, which was successfully tested and installed on early voting and Election Day machines in that area. However, machines elsewhere in the county retained the original programming and could not recognize the ballots.

The New York State Board of Elections is working with the Westchester County Board of Elections to install replacement election media with the updated programming countywide. Officials are prioritizing restoring scanning capabilities to at least one machine at every polling place, while emergency ballot procedures remain in effect to keep voting underway.

Officials stressed that the affected scanners rejected unrecognized ballots rather than miscounting them. All valid votes will be counted under bipartisan oversight, with standard canvassing, recanvassing and post-election audits remaining in place to ensure accuracy.

Earlier reporting

The following was reported before the state clarified that the scanner issue was caused by election programming, not ballot paper.

Ballot scanners are down at polling locations throughout Westchester County on Election Day because of an issue with the paper ballots, the county Board of Elections said, but voting is continuing.

The Board of Elections said the issue is preventing voting machines from accepting ballots at polling locations throughout the county. The board corrected an earlier statement that attributed the problem to the thickness of the ballots and said the exact cause has not yet been determined. It said it is working with vendors to resolve the issue.

Voters are still able to cast their ballots. Completed ballots are being placed in designated orange emergency ballot bags, which the board said will remain secure and monitored and will be counted in accordance with election procedures.

Congressman Mike Lawler said there were issues with every ballot scanner in the county. "We do not yet know" the cause, he said, urging voters: "Do not leave the polling place without voting." Every ballot will be counted, he said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office is monitoring the situation and is in touch with the state and local boards of elections. "Westchester voters can still safely fill out and turn in their ballots at their polling locations," she said. "Your votes will count."

Polls in New York opened at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. There was no immediate word on when the scanner issue would be resolved.