Voting Problems Hit Pennsylvania: Voters Switched to Casting Provisional Ballots - Report
Election officials in Pennsylvania — a state already at the center of attention, given the high stakes of the outcome — faced unexpected problems with voting machines Tuesday morning after a paper shortage was reported.
According to WNEP-TV, voters in Luzerne County told the outlet that some of the voting machines had run out of paper. As a result, those voters were reportedly instructed to fill out provisional ballots while election officials drove to nearby areas to retrieve extra voting machine paper.
Voters in Harveys Lake, #LuzerneCounty #PA waiting to cast their ballots. This polling place ran out of paper at 9:30am and voters had to vote by provisional ballot causing many questions and concerns among voters this #ElectionDay (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/Uio302HfDk
— Chelsea Strub (@chelseastrub) November 8, 2022
The issue quickly spread across social media, with some pointing out that the issues were occurring in particularly impactful areas of the state.
“Luzerne County, PA – one of the counties capable of swinging the Oz/Fetterman race – is running out of the special paper that is used by the voting machines. Poll workers at my district just shut down 4 of the 5 machines while I was there.”
Luzerne County, PA – one of the counties capable of swinging the Oz/Fetterman race – is running out of the special paper that is used by the voting machines. Poll workers at my district just shut down 4 of the 5 machines while I was there.
— Dave Skutnik (@DaveSkutnik) November 8, 2022
Tuesday afternoon, after word of the low-paper issue, which also reportedly happened in Dorrance Township and Dallas Township, a Luzerne County judge extended the voting deadline by an extra hour. As of that ruling, voters in the county will have until 10:00 p.m. Eastern to cast their votes.
Instructions were also provided to voters who might have been turned away by the unexpected development.
🚨Poll Hours Extended🚨
Polling locations in some precincts across Luzerne County have had voting machine issues and paper shortages.
By court orders, polls will now remain open until 10 PM.
If you were turned away earlier, please come in this evening and vote! #PA08
— Jim Bognet (@Bognet4congress) November 8, 2022
WNEP-TV stressed, “Voters who had to cast a provisional ballot should not be concerned about their vote counting, including those who used computer paper.”
“I think that’s ridiculous,” one voter told the outlet. “Especially since, it’s open until 8:00 p.m. tonight? And they still can’t find any paper? So nowhere to find paper. Good.”
Regarding what could have caused the paper issue on Election Day, Acting Deputy Director of Elections Emily Cook said she believes it was higher voter turnout and the “perfect storm of factors” combined.
The Pennsylvania paper issue came at the same time a potentially disruptive situation unfolded in Maricopa County, Arizona, where major problems with its voting machines were reported.
According to KUTP-DT, Maricopa County officials reported problems in approximately 20 percent of the county’s polling sites. The primary issue seemed to be a problem with the tabulation machines misreading information. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as the issues began early Tuesday morning amid unprecedented voter turnout.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake addressed the unfortunate issue that happened to be occurring in the state’s most populous area.
Kari Lake UNLOADS after Arizona tabulation machines malfunction
“This is incompetency. I hope it’s not malice.” pic.twitter.com/LB5l1JU67v
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 8, 2022
She told concerned supporters to “just stay in line, Arizona, and vote, vote, vote,” while adding that, if need be, voters should take snacks and water to remain comfortable in what could be long wait times to complete a ballot.
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