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.
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
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 71%, weighted across 22 claims from 3 independent outlets.
- confirmed Voting machines in New York's Westchester County are rejecting paper ballots on Election Day. (91%)
- likely The issue appears to be related to the thickness of the paper ballots. (82%)
- likely The issue affects one of the most competitive House races in the country. (71%)
- likely Every eligible vote will be counted, according to Westchester County government. (71%)
- likely All paper ballots will still be counted despite the machine issue. (68%)
- likely Voting machines in Westchester County, New York, encountered issues due to the thickness of paper ballots. (67%)
- likely These issues led to delays in the counting of ballots for Rep. Mike Lawler's (R-NY) re-election. (67%)
- likely Rep. Mike Lawler expressed assurance that all ballots would be counted despite the machine issues. (67%)
- likely The New York State Board of Elections stated that long-established emergency procedures were in place to handle the situation. (67%)
- likely The race is between Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Democratic nominee Cait Conley. (71%)
- likely Westchester County covers approximately 30% of New York's 17th District. (71%)
- likely Election officials are working with state and local governments to resolve the issue. (71%)
- likely Voters have been filling out paper ballots instead of using the machines. (71%)
- likely New York Attorney General Letitia James is monitoring the situation. (71%)
- likely Paper ballots will be placed in orange emergency ballot bags if not accepted by machines. (68%)
- likely Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins directed officials to monitor the voting process closely. (68%)
- likely Rep. Mike Lawler informed voters about the ballot scanner problem via social media. (68%)
- likely Polls in New York open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. (68%)
- likely New York's Democratic Attorney General Letitia James provided information about the Election Protection Hotline. (68%)
- likely Democrat Cait Conley, Lawler's opponent, also assured voters that their votes would be counted. (67%)
- likely Mike Lawler previously won New York's 7th Congressional District in 2022 and is considered a centrist Republican. (67%)
- likely Polling indicated that Lawler and Conley were in a very close race. (67%)
Sources
- Axios — Voting machine chaos hits key House battleground
https://www.axios.com/2026/11/03/ny-voting-ballot-polls-ballot-issue - Fox News — Paper ballots in NY county unable to be accepted by voting machines, will still be counted
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/paper-ballots-ny-county-unable-accepted-voting-machines-still-counted - Washington Examiner Congress — Westchester voting machines down, leading to delay in Mike Lawler’s reelection ballot counting
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4789284/westchester-voting-machine-delay-mike-lawler-reelection/