Barcode Glitch on Ballots Causes Election Day Delays in Westchester County
On Election Day in Westchester County, New York, a problem with the barcode printing on paper ballots led to tabulator machines not accepting them, causing delays for voters and requiring ballots to be handled as emergency ballots while officials worked…
Missoula, MT, November 3, 2026 — On Election Day in Westchester County, New York, voters experienced delays due to an issue with the printing of barcodes on paper ballots. The malfunctioning barcodes caused tabulation machines to reject the ballots, necessitating an alternative handling process for voters.
Officials reported that the problem with the barcode printing meant that tabulator machines were unable to scan and process the paper ballots correctly. This technical difficulty led to a slowdown in the voting process as election workers encountered ballots that could not be immediately tabulated.
In response to the issue, election officials implemented a contingency plan. Ballots affected by the barcode printing problem were handled as emergency ballots. This measure allowed voters to cast their ballots while county staff worked to identify and resolve the root cause of the barcode malfunction.
The exact nature of the barcode printing error and the specific timeline for when it was identified and rectified were not immediately detailed. The resolution process involved election staff addressing the technical challenges to ensure all eligible votes could be properly processed following the Election Day disruptions.
Story summarized from the original created by Taylor O’Bier on www.kpax.com, see more information here.
