WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — November 3, 2026. Widespread ballot scanner malfunctions disrupted Election Day voting across Westchester County on Tuesday morning, forcing election workers to collect paper ballots for later counting as voters participated in one of the country’s closely watched congressional races.
The problems emerged shortly after polling locations opened at 6 a.m., with scanners rejecting completed ballots at multiple sites. Reports came from communities including Yonkers, White Plains and Montrose, where election workers implemented emergency procedures to keep voting underway.
ELECTION OFFICIALS ADDRESS BALLOT PAPER PROBLEMS
The Westchester County Board of Elections initially identified the thickness of ballot paper as the apparent reason scanners were unable to accept ballots. A revised version of the statement later referred more generally to a problem involving paper ballots, without confirming that thickness was the definitive cause.
Officials said they were coordinating with New York State election authorities, county government and polling-site workers to address the disruption. The board apologized to voters and poll workers while emphasizing that the problems should not prevent eligible residents from participating.
EMERGENCY BALLOT PROCEDURES ACTIVATED
Rather than suspending voting, election officials instructed residents to complete their paper ballots and follow poll workers’ directions. Ballots that could not be processed by scanners were being placed in designated orange emergency bags for secure storage and subsequent counting.
The board said the bags would remain monitored and that the ballots would be counted under applicable election procedures. The alternative process was intended to preserve voting access while technicians worked to address the malfunction.
WESTCHESTER ELECTION DISRUPTION: KEY FACTS
| ISSUE | CONFIRMED INFORMATION |
|---|---|
| Location | Westchester County, New York |
| Equipment | Widespread ballot scanner failures |
| Cause | Ballot paper issue reported; precise cause not conclusively established |
| Emergency procedure | Completed ballots secured in monitored orange emergency bags |
| Vote counting | Officials say every eligible ballot will be counted |
Source: Westchester County Board of Elections. Information subject to official updates.
MIKE LAWLER RESPONDS AS COMPETITIVE HOUSE RACE CONTINUES
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, seeking reelection in New York’s 17th Congressional District, reported problems affecting every ballot scanner in Westchester County. He urged voters to remain at polling locations and complete the voting process despite the technical difficulties.
The malfunction attracted heightened attention because Lawler faces Democratic challenger Cait Conley in a competitive race with potential implications for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Conley also encouraged residents to continue voting and said election officials were working in a bipartisan manner to resolve the situation.
NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL MONITORS DISRUPTION
New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office was monitoring the scanner problems and communicating with state and local election officials. She reassured voters that they could continue submitting ballots safely at their polling locations.
Although the malfunction created confusion and raised questions about how quickly ballots could be processed, the available reporting did not establish that votes had been lost or that the disruption resulted from deliberate interference.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Election authorities must complete the counting of emergency ballots, determine the technical cause of the scanner failures and assess whether additional corrective measures are necessary. As of the reports reviewed, officials had not established a definitive restoration timeline.
The Westchester County Board of Elections maintained that every eligible ballot would be counted and urged residents not to abandon their opportunity to vote because of the equipment problems.
