Pennsylvania county reports voting machine issues that swapped votes for Superior Court candidates
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- Officials from the Northampton County Elections Office have reported an issue with their voting machines this Election Day.
The county's Election Office spotted a glitch with recording the votes for the Pennsylvania Superior Court retention race, affecting decisions to retain Judge Jack Panella and Judge Victor P. Stabile.
The Northampton County shared in a release earlier Tuesday afternoon on their X account.
"The Northampton County Elections Office reports an issue with the recording of votes only for the races for retention to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, affecting Judge Jack Panella and Judge Victor P. Stabile.
It appears that when a voter selects a "Yes" or a "No" for one of the candidates for retention to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the selection is recorded on the paper ballot and on the machine for the other candidate.
The issue is limited to the retention of Superior Court Judges, and is only an issue when recording the votes for when a voter selected a "Yes" for one candidate and a "No" for another candidate.
The Elections Division of the County of Northampton notified all poll workers by text message that they are to instruct voters before the voter enters the voting booth that there is an issue with the recording of their vote for the candidates for retention to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, that the paper receipt will record their selection for retention to the Pennsylvania Superior Court one candidate to the other candidate."
Officials said that when a voter would select 'yes' or 'no' on their ballot for one of the candidates up for retention to the PA Superior Court, the vote was recorded on the paper ballot and on the machine for the other candidate.
Judicial retention races don't involve opponents on the ballot. They simply offer a 'yes' or 'no' choice for the voter to decide if they want the judge to keep their position.
This issue is exclusively limited to the retention of Superior Court Judges and is only an issue when recording the votes for when a voter selected 'yes' for one candidate and 'no' for another candidate.
The Elections Division of the County of Northampton has instructed all poll workers to keep the voters informed on the PA Superior Court retention race issue before they enter the booth to cast their ballot. They will also tell voters that the paper receipt will record their vote for retention to the PA Superior Court from one candidate to the other.
READ MORE: Pa. Election Guide 2023: Information for Pennsylvania voters
