The facts
The Associated Press reported that Election Day voting began nationwide on Nov. 3, with control of Congress at stake in the midterms. Polling hours vary by state and locality. [1][2][4]
The Westchester County Board of Elections said tabulators at polling locations were rejecting paper ballots and urged voters to continue voting. It said ballots placed in orange emergency bags would be secured and monitored for counting under applicable procedures. [5]
CBS New York reported that the scanner problem affected most polling sites in the county from the 6 a.m. opening and quoted the county’s instruction for voters to keep their place in line and continue voting. [6]
AP reported that New York’s State Board of Elections attributed the tabulator issue to a programming update made after equipment preparation and testing following a local race change. The state said at least one scanner was restored at each site. [7]
WABC reported that a scanner was back in operation at one Tarrytown location and that some ballots held in emergency bags would be counted after polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern. [8]
The reviewed county and local reports did not provide a total number of affected ballots or the final number of scanners restored. No statewide or national election result is established in these reports. [5][7][8]
Relevant context
A county-level equipment problem does not establish a problem in other states or a change to the national outcome. The county said voting should continue and described its emergency ballot procedure. [5][7]
Still unconfirmed
- The number of Westchester ballots placed in emergency bags and how many were initially rejected remain unknown.
- A countywide final count of restored scanners was not established in the opened reports.
- Election results, final turnout and control of either chamber remain unknown while voting and counting proceed.
Corrections & updates
Substantive update, 3 November UTC: added Westchester County’s scanner disruption and official voter instructions, the New York State Board of Elections’ attributed programming explanation, and local reporting on scanner restoration. The issue is localized to Westchester in the sources reviewed; no ballot totals or election results are asserted.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 3 Nov 2026, 19:57 UTC.
AP and CBS independently report the 3 November national midterm schedule and stakes. Poll-opening hours vary by state; Connecticut’s official calendar corroborates that state’s 6 a.m. start, while CBS lists Vermont at 5 a.m. Eastern. At publication, the election is in progress; no results or winners are asserted.
- Election Day arrives after a surge in early voting, with observers keeping close watch at the polls
The Associated Press · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened AP’s Election Day report. It states that the election determines control of Congress and lists first polling sites scheduled to open at 6 a.m. in several states; it does not report results.
- Here’s when polls open and close for 2026 midterm elections today
CBS News · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened the state-by-state schedule. CBS lists Vermont at 5 a.m. Eastern, several states at 6 a.m. and later openings elsewhere; schedules vary by state.
- Polls open today as CT decides on governor, General Assembly
Connecticut Mirror · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened local election-day reporting for Connecticut. Its polling schedule is local, not national.
- 2026 election calendar
Connecticut Secretary of the State · Primary source · 23 Dec 2025
Opened the official state calendar; it lists Connecticut Election Day polls as open 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern.
- Important Election Day notice: voting continues during scanner issue
Westchester County Board of Elections, via Town of Mount Pleasant · Primary source · 3 Nov 2026
Opened the county board notice posted by the town: paper ballots were being rejected by machines, voters should keep voting, and orange emergency bags were secured and monitored.
- Ballot scanner issue reported at Westchester County polling sites
CBS New York · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened CBS New York’s local report, updated at 8:42 a.m. Eastern. It says most county sites experienced the problem from the 6 a.m. opening and relays the county’s voter instructions.
- Election Day live updates: scanner problems reported in New York county
The Associated Press · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened AP’s live report. New York’s State Board of Elections attributed the Westchester tabulator failure to a programming update after testing following a local race change and said at least one scanner was restored at each site.
- Election Day 2026 live updates for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
WABC-TV / ABC7 New York · Reporting · 3 Nov 2026
Opened the local live report, updated Nov. 3: described the state-board explanation, no issue with paper stock, a scanner restored in Tarrytown and emergency-bag ballots to be counted after polls close.