Jenkins calls Election Day voting issues 'unacceptable'

UPDATED AT 12:33 P.M.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins condemned widespread ballot scanning problems at polling locations across the county Tuesday, Nov. 3, calling the situation "unacceptable" and pledging a bipartisan investigation into what went wrong.

The statement came as voters across Westchester County encountered problems feeding their paper ballots into voting machines on Election Day, with the county Board of Elections acknowledging a countywide issue preventing scanners from accepting ballots.

“My office is fully aware of the ongoing problems with ballots and voting scanners across Westchester County, and I want to be absolutely clear: this situation is unacceptable,” Jenkins said.

Despite the scanning problems, voters have been instructed to continue casting their ballots, with completed ballots that cannot be scanned being secured in designated orange emergency ballot bags for counting.

The disruption has drawn particular attention because Westchester County is a key battleground in New York's closely watched 17th Congressional District race between Democratic challenger Cait Conley and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. Both candidates urged voters to remain in line and cast their ballots despite the technical problems.

Local officials and candidates running for office across Halston Media's coverage area echoed that sentiment, urging voters to remain in line and cast their ballots despite the disruptions.

“Voters should remain in line and exercise their right to vote,” Jenkins said. “Every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast their ballot, and every vote must be counted.”

Jenkins said on Tuesday he directed county officials, including representatives from the Law Department, to monitor the voting process and ensure voters can cast their ballots without interference and that every vote is accurately counted.

He also pledged to convene a bipartisan team once the issues are resolved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the problems and determine accountability.

“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,” Jenkins said.

“Westchester County voters deserve a fair, secure and seamless election process,” he added. “Today, we have fallen short of that standard. The voters deserve better, and I intend to make sure they get it.”