Ballot scanners broken at most polling places in Westchester County, New York, officials say

Voting machines at most polling places in Westchester County, New York, were not accepting ballots Tuesday morning due to an undefined problem, according to the county executive.

The scanners started experiencing problems when the polling stations are open at 6 a.m.

Voters are asked to line up and fill out a paper ballot, which will be placed in emergency orange voting bags to be counted later.

The New York State Board of Elections said there were no interruptions to voting.

“Long-established emergency voting procedures have been implemented, where completed ballots are secure, under bipartisan control, and will be counted. While technical issues can be frustrating, emergency procedures exist for precisely these circumstances,” a statement read.

County Executive Ken Jenkins hasn’t said exactly what went wrong, and it’s unclear when the problem will be fixed.

Republican Mike Lawler, running for re-election in the Lower Hudson Valley, said all the county’s scanners were down.

“The Board of Elections is working with its vendors to resolve the issue. However, every ballot will be counted. Stay in line and vote. Do not leave the polling place without voting,” he wrote on social media.

Democratic challenger Cait Conley also published an article on the issue, urging residents to continue voting.

“Don’t be deterred and make your voice heard. The Board of Elections is working diligently on this issue in a bipartisan manner,” she wrote in part.

The race between Lawler and Conley for New York’s 17th Congressional District is hotly contested. It includes most of northern Westchester and part of southern Westchester.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also said her office was monitoring the issue.

“Westchester voters can still complete and deliver their ballots securely at their polling places. Your votes will count,” she wrote.