Ballots in Westchester County to be counted after scanner issue on Election Day

The election is over, but workers will still be counting ballots after scanners were unable to accept votes at polling places across Westchester County.

The Board of Elections is counting what are now considered emergency ballots. By 11 a.m. Wednesday, officials were mandated by court order to start counting.

Those are the votes that couldn't be scanned Tuesday due to a printing issue with the ballots. Instead, voters were told to fill out the ballots and place them in secured bags.

Overnight, the ballots were taken to a Board of Elections facility under police supervision. Officials said they will remain under police protection until counting begins. 

Board of Elections Commissioner Tajian Nelson said she doesn't know how long the process may take.

"All bags are being reviewed to confirm ballots are placed where they need to be. We're going to review every single bag in regards to what was received by police," she said. 

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the issue will be looked into and there will be accountability.

"We're going to convene a bipartisan team to conduct a thorough review of the decisions and failures that led to this debacle and determine where accountability lies and ensure that this never happens again," he said.

Despite the unusual process, voters said they felt confident their ballots were being handled properly.

The instructions were clear. I just follow the instructions, get authenticated, vote and place it in a sealed bag," said Elmsford voter Cathy Ronan.

"Every vote is going to be counted. I think I need to say that three times. Every vote will be counted, every vote will be counted. It's being resolved in a bipartisan way; it's supposed to. The backup plan is already in place," said Gov. Kathy Hochul.