Westchester Counts Ballots After Election Day Machine Error

Westchester County election officials resumed counting ballots on November 4 after a programming error prevented machines from reading ballots at many polling locations the previous day. Voters completed paper ballots, which were placed in secure orange bags for counting.

Thousands of ballots were transported under police escort to the county Board of Elections on Tuesday night. Officials said the ballots were secure and would be counted, though the machine problem delayed official results.

Officials were arranging for extra voting machines to arrive at the Board of Elections on Wednesday morning. Officials said the machines would help process the votes as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The delay affected races across the county, including local contests for town supervisor, county legislator and town clerk. State Assemblyman Matthew Slater said those races, as well as larger contests, were affected while ballots remained uncounted.

The 17th Congressional District race was among those drawing close attention. Democrat Cait Conley received word that Republican incumbent Mike Lawler was yielding the race on election night. Lawler said he believed conceding that night was the right thing to do.

Westchester Ballot Glitch Delays Results Across County

A programming error at voting machines delayed the count in Westchester County, leaving ballots in congressional and local races awaiting processing. Officials began counting them on November 4, after voters’ paper ballots had been secured in orange bags and thousands were transported under police escort.

The ballots must all be counted, not just those in the high-profile congressional contest. State Assemblyman Matthew Slater said races for town supervisor, county legislature and town clerk were also affected. The delay in official results underscores the stakes of election systems that must reliably capture every vote.

County officials said the ballots were secure and brought in additional machines to speed the count. Democrat Cait Conley accepted Republican incumbent Mike Lawler’s concession on election night in the 17th District race, but other contests remained in the balance as counting continued.

Secure Ballots Counted After Westchester Machine Failure

Despite a machine programming error that delayed official results, Westchester County voters’ completed ballots were secured and transported for counting. Thousands arrived at the Board of Elections on Tuesday night with a police escort, and officials began processing them on November 4.

The county said additional voting machines would help count the ballots as quickly and efficiently as possible. Officials gave voters assurances that their ballots were safely stored and would be tallied. That process now determines results in contests ranging from local offices to congressional races.

The delay affected races for town supervisor, county legislator and town clerk, as well as larger contests. In the closely watched 17th Congressional District race, Democrat Cait Conley accepted Republican incumbent Mike Lawler’s election-night concession. Lawler said conceding that night was the right thing to do.