Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins called the countywide failure of ballot scanners on Election Day “unacceptable” and a “debacle,” promising a thorough review of the decisions and failures that led to the breakdown.
The race in New York’s 17th District between Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat challenger Cait Conley is among those that could affect control of the House.
Jenkins said in a statement on Tuesday morning that his office is fully aware of the ongoing problems with ballots and voting scanners across the county and that voters should remain in line so every eligible ballot can be cast and counted. He directed county officials, including representatives from the Law Department, to monitor the process and ensure ballots are properly handled.
“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.
“Voters should remain in line and exercise their right to vote. Every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast their ballot, and every vote must be counted. I have directed County officials, including representatives from our Law Department, to monitor the voting process and ensure that voters can cast their ballots without interference and that every vote is properly and accurately counted,” the statement continued. “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.”
“Westchester County voters deserve a fair, secure and seamless election process. Today, we have fallen short of that standard. The voters deserve better, and I intend to make sure they get it.”
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, the problems began as soon as polls opened at 6 a.m.
Scanners at most or all polling locations refused to accept paper ballots.
The Westchester County Board of Elections initially attributed the issue to the thickness of the ballots, then issued a corrected statement removing that specific explanation and simply confirming “an issue involving paper ballots that is preventing voting machines from accepting ballots at polling locations throughout the County.”
Voters were instructed to complete paper ballots and place them in designated orange emergency ballot bags that officials said would remain secure and monitored until they could be counted.
Local outlets reported the countywide scope of the failures, with voters in places such as New Rochelle, Ossining, and North Salem describing machines that rejected every ballot.
Rep. Lawler, whose 17th Congressional District includes much of Westchester and is a competitive race, posted early that every ballot scanner in the county had a problem.
“There is a problem with every ballot scanner in Westchester County. We do not yet know the exact cause of the issue, whether it is the ballot or the machine. The Board of Elections is working with their vendors to resolve it,” Lawler wrote in a post on X. “However, every ballot will be counted. Stay on line and vote. Do not leave the polling place without voting.”
There is a problem with every ballot scanner in Westchester County. We do not yet know the exact cause of the issue, whether it is the ballot or the machine. The Board of Elections is working with their vendors to resolve it.
However, every ballot will be counted. Stay on line and vote. Do not leave the polling place without voting.
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) November 3, 2026
In a follow-up post, Lawler wrote, “To every voter in Westchester County: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POLLING PLACE UNTIL YOU VOTE.
“Every ballot will be counted, and we are already in court to make sure they are counted in **one central location** so that our campaign, election monitors, and our attorneys can watch and oversee the process,” the post continued. “I have confidence that every vote will be counted — just VOTE and have your voice heard.”
To every voter in Westchester County: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POLLING PLACE UNTIL YOU VOTE.
Every ballot will be counted and we are already in court to make sure they are counted in **one central location** so that our campaign, election monitors, and our attorneys can watch and oversee the process.
I have confidence that every vote will be counted — just VOTE and have your voice heard. 🗳️ 🇺🇸
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) November 3, 2026
Trending: BREAKING: O’Keefe Media Group Drops Talarico Tapes One Day Before Midterm Elections (VIDEO)
Lawler also posted a video telling voters polls remain open until 9 p.m., discussing the problems with ballots and machines, and urging people not to leave the line without voting.
WATCH:
It’s Election Day! Polls are open till 9pm tonight. I know there have been challenges in Westchester County with the ballots and the machines, but STAY IN LINE.
Make sure you vote and have your voice heard. DO NOT LEAVE THE LINE WITHOUT VOTING AT YOUR POLLING LOCATION!
Don’t sit on the sidelines, this election matters. Visit https://t.co/HAjSLhPRaZ to find your polling location.
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) November 3, 2026
New York Attorney General Letitia James posted that her office is monitoring the scanner issue and is in touch with state and local boards of elections.
My office is monitoring this issue with scanners in Westchester and is in touch with the state and local Boards of Elections as they work on a solution.
Westchester voters can still safely fill out and turn in their ballots at their polling locations. Your votes will count.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) November 3, 2026
Loomered journalist Charles R Downs responded to her post, “Oh wow, Letitia James just announced that the voting machines in Mike Lawler’s district, one of the areas that will decide control of Congress, have magically broken.”
“The Democrats are already cheating,” he added. “Swamp the vote!”
Oh wow, Letitia James (@NewYorkStateAG) just announced that the voting machines in Mike Lawler’s (@lawler4ny) district, one of the areas that will decide control of Congress, have magically broken.
The Democrats are already cheating.
Swamp the vote!
— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) November 3, 2026
The Gateway Pundit will continue to monitor this important election that could decide control of the House.
Ad block users: Some site features may not work correctly while an ad blocker is enabled, because they break scripts and content this website depends on. If you can’t see comments below, for example, please disable your ad blocker.
