Cambria County election results slow to come in after scanning glitch, voting extended

Election results in Cambria County are slow to come in after voters were given until 10 p.m. Tuesday to cast their ballots because of issues with scanning machines, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

As of Wednesday morning, no results had been added to the county’s website. County officials told The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown that they were “using all manpower available to ensure that every vote is counted” after the malfunction.

Voters were given an extra two hours to vote Tuesday after officials discovered a software malfunction to the Eletronic Voting System that prevented voters from scanning their ballots. County officials requested the two-hour extension.

All ballots cast after 8 p.m. in Cambria County were to be made with a provisional ballot.

The Department of State said voters used paper ballots while the issue with ballot scanning in precincts was resolved.

“We are working with the county to resolve this technical matter and remain committed to ensuring a free, fair, safe, and secure election,” the department said in a statement.

A court order has extended polling place hours in Cambria County until 10 p.m. tonight. Voters in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote on the county’s regular voting system. Voters who get in line after 8 p.m. will vote by provisional ballot. Polls in all other counties will…

— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) November 5, 2024

County solicitor Ron Repak released a statement Tuesday that said, “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 machines at precinct locations to continue to allow voting electronically, while still allowing hand ballots to be cast.”

Luzerne County polling location to stay open late

A Laflin polling location in Luzerne County opened 90 minutes late, “causing an inability for some voters to cast a ballot,” according to court records. Laflin’s polling location did not open until 8:28 a.m. because of the judge of elections not being present, according to reports.

As a result, the Court of Common Pleas issued an order that allows the Laflin polling hours to be extended by 90 minutes with a 9:30 p.m. closing time. Laflin’s population is about 1,400.

Lehigh Valley voters wait for hours

At polling sites across the Lehigh Valley people waited, sometimes for hours, to cast ballots, the Morning Call reported.

Democrats asked to extend the polling site’s hours to 10 p.m., arguing that the county didn’t provide enough voting machines and personnel. But Northampton County Court rejected that request shortly after 7 p.m. Anyone who was in line at 8 p.m. would still be allowed to vote.