Voting hours extended to 10 pm in Cambria County due to widespread issues
Posted on 11/05/2024
UPDATE |
The court has approved a voting extension from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Cambria County.
In the petition, which was approved around 11 a.m. after hours of voter frustrations, election officials explained that a software malfunction to the Electronic Voting System (EVS) prevented voters from scanning their completed ballots.
"The malfunction caused voters confusions, long lines of voters, and many individuals left the polling locations without casting a ballot," according to the petition. Officials report the voting software malfunction is not fixed and "threatens to disenfranchise a significant number of voters in Cambria County."
The court issued an official order that extends voting in Cambria County to 10 p.m.
According to the PA Department of the State, voters who get in line after 8 p.m. will vote by provisional ballot, which "records votes while the county board of elections determines whether it will be counted." The county board of elections has already received approval from a court order to extend voting.
Polls in all other counties will still close at 8 p.m., and those counties may begin reporting their unofficial results at that time.
UPDATE |
Election officials have confirmed machine and software problems are causing problems for tabulating votes in Cambria and Bedford counties, and 6 News has received unconfirmed reports of voting issues in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties. However, officials want to reassure voters that their votes will still be counted.
Voters are being told that ballots will be going into lock boxes until they can be scanned, secured and counted.
In Cambria County, officials report that a software malfunction is preventing voters from scanning their ballots, and the elections board has filed a court order extending the time to vote within Cambria County. IT specialists are reviewing the software issue, and election officials are reassuring voters that all completed ballots will be "accepted, secured, and counted by the Board of Elections," the Elections Board reported in a press release.
Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg: A 6 News reporter will be live at 12 p.m. at the Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg, where voters are reporting problems with ballots.
United Methodist Church in Elton: 6 News has also received unconfirmed reports from viewers about voting issues at the United Methodist Church in Elton, where voters report they are being told to place their paper ballot in a lockbox.
St. Francis Church in Cambria County: Another viewer reported that all machines are not working at St. Francis Church in Cambria County. A voter shared that they left their ballot in a lockbox.
Lower Yoder Municipal Building: A viewer reported that the tabulator machine was broken and they voted by putting their ballot in a lockbox.
Cambria County Officials report that express voting machine are set up at precinct locations to allow residents to vote electronically, while still allowing hand ballots to be cast. Election officials are monitoring the issue and guarantee that "all voters have an opportunity to cast their ballots."
Bedford County Elections officials confirmed problems with voting tabulator machines in several precincts. Officials report they have identified the issue and sent support teams to resolve the problem.
"The ability to vote has not been impacted and at this time all sites are being addressed," Elections officials shared in a press release Tuesday morning.
6 News has received unconfirmed reports about voting issues in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties and are trying to confirm reports with officials. Voters have reached out to 6 News and posted on our .
6 News contacted the Department of State regarding voting issues and are waiting to hear back. We will update the story when we learn more.
ORIGINAL |
In response to widespread voting issues in Cambria County Tuesday morning, county solicitor Ron Repak released the following statement:
"The Cambria County Board of Election learned early this morning that a software malfunction in the County’s Electronic Voting System has prevented voters from scanning their ballots. This should not discourage voters from voting at their voting precincts. The Board has filed a Court Order extending the time to vote within Cambria County. No one should be turned away from the polls if they wish to cast their vote. Cambria County Board of Elections took measures to have IT specialists called to review the software issue. There is a process in place for issues of this nature. All completed ballots will be accepted, secured, and counted by the Board of Elections. The County Board of Elections has express voting machine at precinct locations to continue to allow voting electronically, while still allowing hand ballots to be cast. The County Board of Elections will be continuing to monitor this issue and take any necessary action to ensure that all voters have an opportunity to cast their ballots. We thank the community for their patience and support while this issue is rectified. In summary, all votes will be counted and we continue to encourage everyone to vote."
The court has approved a voting extension from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Cambria County.
In the petition, which was approved around 11 a.m. after hours of voter frustrations, election officials explained that a software malfunction to the Electronic Voting System (EVS) prevented voters from scanning their completed ballots.
"The malfunction caused voters confusions, long lines of voters, and many individuals left the polling locations without casting a ballot," according to the petition. Officials report the voting software malfunction is not fixed and "threatens to disenfranchise a significant number of voters in Cambria County."
The court issued an official order that extends voting in Cambria County to 10 p.m.
According to the PA Department of the State, voters who get in line after 8 p.m. will vote by provisional ballot, which "records votes while the county board of elections determines whether it will be counted." The county board of elections has already received approval from a court order to extend voting.
Polls in all other counties will still close at 8 p.m., and those counties may begin reporting their unofficial results at that time.
UPDATE |
Election officials have confirmed machine and software problems are causing problems for tabulating votes in Cambria and Bedford counties, and 6 News has received unconfirmed reports of voting issues in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties. However, officials want to reassure voters that their votes will still be counted.
Voters are being told that ballots will be going into lock boxes until they can be scanned, secured and counted.
In Cambria County, officials report that a software malfunction is preventing voters from scanning their ballots, and the elections board has filed a court order extending the time to vote within Cambria County. IT specialists are reviewing the software issue, and election officials are reassuring voters that all completed ballots will be "accepted, secured, and counted by the Board of Elections," the Elections Board reported in a press release.
Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg: A 6 News reporter will be live at 12 p.m. at the Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg, where voters are reporting problems with ballots.
United Methodist Church in Elton: 6 News has also received unconfirmed reports from viewers about voting issues at the United Methodist Church in Elton, where voters report they are being told to place their paper ballot in a lockbox.
St. Francis Church in Cambria County: Another viewer reported that all machines are not working at St. Francis Church in Cambria County. A voter shared that they left their ballot in a lockbox.
Lower Yoder Municipal Building: A viewer reported that the tabulator machine was broken and they voted by putting their ballot in a lockbox.
Cambria County Officials report that express voting machine are set up at precinct locations to allow residents to vote electronically, while still allowing hand ballots to be cast. Election officials are monitoring the issue and guarantee that "all voters have an opportunity to cast their ballots."
Bedford County Elections officials confirmed problems with voting tabulator machines in several precincts. Officials report they have identified the issue and sent support teams to resolve the problem.
"The ability to vote has not been impacted and at this time all sites are being addressed," Elections officials shared in a press release Tuesday morning.
6 News has received unconfirmed reports about voting issues in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties and are trying to confirm reports with officials. Voters have reached out to 6 News and posted on our .
6 News contacted the Department of State regarding voting issues and are waiting to hear back. We will update the story when we learn more.
ORIGINAL |
In response to widespread voting issues in Cambria County Tuesday morning, county solicitor Ron Repak released the following statement:
"The Cambria County Board of Election learned early this morning that a software malfunction in the County’s Electronic Voting System has prevented voters from scanning their ballots. This should not discourage voters from voting at their voting precincts. The Board has filed a Court Order extending the time to vote within Cambria County. No one should be turned away from the polls if they wish to cast their vote. Cambria County Board of Elections took measures to have IT specialists called to review the software issue. There is a process in place for issues of this nature. All completed ballots will be accepted, secured, and counted by the Board of Elections. The County Board of Elections has express voting machine at precinct locations to continue to allow voting electronically, while still allowing hand ballots to be cast. The County Board of Elections will be continuing to monitor this issue and take any necessary action to ensure that all voters have an opportunity to cast their ballots. We thank the community for their patience and support while this issue is rectified. In summary, all votes will be counted and we continue to encourage everyone to vote."
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