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Paper Ballots Rejected by Machines in Westchester County, But Votes Will Still Count

Voting machines in New York's Westchester County are rejecting paper ballots due to thickness, but election officials assure all votes will be counted.

AI IMAGEAI-generated illustration by Studio z-image. Not a photograph of the event.

Voting machines in New York's Westchester County are rejecting paper ballots on Election Day, reported to be due to the thickness of the paper ballots 23. This issue has led to delays in the counting of ballots for Rep. Mike Lawler's (R-NY) re-election, which is considered one of the most competitive House races in the country 13. Despite the machine issues, every eligible vote will be counted, according to the Westchester County government 1.

The New York State Board of Elections stated that long-established emergency procedures were in place to handle the situation, ensuring that all paper ballots will still be counted 3. In response to the problem, voters have been filling out paper ballots instead of using the machines 1. If a paper ballot is not accepted by the machine, it will be placed in an orange emergency ballot bag 2.

Rep. Mike Lawler expressed assurance that all ballots would be counted despite the machine issues, informing voters about the ballot scanner problem via social media 23. His opponent, Democrat Cait Conley, also assured voters that their votes would be counted 3. The race is between Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Democratic nominee Cait Conley, with Westchester County covering approximately 30% of New York's 17th District 1.

Election officials are working with state and local governments to resolve the issue, with Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins directing officials to monitor the voting process closely 2. New York Attorney General Letitia James is monitoring the situation and provided information about the Election Protection Hotline 2.

What we know

  • - Voting machines in New York's Westchester County are rejecting paper ballots on Election Day 123
  • - The issue appears to be related to the thickness of the paper ballots 23
  • - Every eligible vote will be counted, according to Westchester County government 1
  • - All paper ballots will still be counted despite the machine issue 2
  • - The race is between Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Democratic nominee Cait Conley 1
  • - Westchester County covers approximately 30% of New York's 17th District 1

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Trust Score report

71%
Likely accurate
Probability of truth, weighted across 22 claims from 3 outlets. Each claim is scored by how many independent, reliable newsrooms support or contradict it. Method
  • confirmed
    Voting machines in New York's Westchester County are rejecting paper ballots on Election Day.
    91% · supported by 3
  • likely
    The issue appears to be related to the thickness of the paper ballots.
    82% · supported by 2
  • likely
    The issue affects one of the most competitive House races in the country.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Every eligible vote will be counted, according to Westchester County government.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    All paper ballots will still be counted despite the machine issue.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Voting machines in Westchester County, New York, encountered issues due to the thickness of paper ballots.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    These issues led to delays in the counting of ballots for Rep. Mike Lawler's (R-NY) re-election.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Rep. Mike Lawler expressed assurance that all ballots would be counted despite the machine issues.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    The New York State Board of Elections stated that long-established emergency procedures were in place to handle the situation.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    The race is between Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Democratic nominee Cait Conley.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Westchester County covers approximately 30% of New York's 17th District.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Election officials are working with state and local governments to resolve the issue.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Voters have been filling out paper ballots instead of using the machines.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    New York Attorney General Letitia James is monitoring the situation.
    71% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Paper ballots will be placed in orange emergency ballot bags if not accepted by machines.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins directed officials to monitor the voting process closely.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Rep. Mike Lawler informed voters about the ballot scanner problem via social media.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Polls in New York open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    New York's Democratic Attorney General Letitia James provided information about the Election Protection Hotline.
    68% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Democrat Cait Conley, Lawler's opponent, also assured voters that their votes would be counted.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Mike Lawler previously won New York's 7th Congressional District in 2022 and is considered a centrist Republican.
    67% · supported by 1
  • likely
    Polling indicated that Lawler and Conley were in a very close race.
    67% · supported by 1

Sources & references

  1. Axios — Voting machine chaos hits key House battleground · 2026-11-03 · headline & summary only
  2. Fox News — Paper ballots in NY county unable to be accepted by voting machines, will still be counted · 2026-11-03
  3. Washington Examiner Congress — Westchester voting machines down, leading to delay in Mike Lawler’s reelection ballot counting · 2026-11-03

This article is an original synthesis written by Jessi. It does not reproduce the text of the outlets above; it cross-references their reporting and links to them so you can read the originals.

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