Officials acknowledge voting issues at Cambria Co. and request extension of voting time

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. – UPDATE | Election officials have confirmed that machine and software problems are causing vote tabulation problems in Cambria and Bedford counties, and 6News has received unconfirmed reports of voting problems in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties. But officials want to reassure voters that their votes will still be counted.

Voters are told that ballots will go into lockers until they can be scanned, secured and counted.

In Cambria County, officials report a software glitch is preventing voters from scanning their ballots, and the elections board has issued a court order extending the deadline for voting in Cambria County. IT specialists are investigating the software issue and election officials are assuring voters that all completed ballots “will be accepted, secured and counted by the Board of Elections,” the Board of Elections reported in a news release.

• Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg: A 6News reporter will be live at the Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg at 12 p.m. where voters are reporting issues with ballots.
• United Methodist Church in Elton: 6News has also received unconfirmed reports from viewers of voting issues at the United Methodist Church in Elton, where voters report being asked to drop their ballot in a locker.
• St. Francis Church in Cambria County: Another viewer reported that not all machines are working at St. Francis Church in Cambria County. A voter said he left his ballot in a locker.
• Lower Yoder Municipal Building: A viewer reported that the tabulating machine was broken and they voted by putting their ballot in a locker.

Cambria County officials report that express voting machines are set up at county locations to allow residents to vote electronically while also allowing for hand-held ballots. Election officials are monitoring the matter and guaranteeing that “all voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot.”

Bedford County election officials confirmed problems with vote tabulation machines in several counties. Officials report that they have identified the issue and sent support teams to resolve the issue.

“The ability to vote has not been impacted and all sites are currently being addressed,” election officials said in a news release Tuesday morning.

6News has received unconfirmed reports of voting issues in Blair, Somerset and Luzerne counties and has attempted to confirm the reports with officials.

6News has contacted the State Department regarding voting questions and is awaiting a response. We'll update the story as we learn more.

ORIGINAL | In response to the widespread voting problems in Cambria County, District Attorney Ron Repak released the following statement Tuesday morning:

“The Cambria County Board of Elections learned earlier today that a software glitch in the county’s electronic voting system prevented voters from scanning their ballots. This should not stop voters from voting in their precincts. The board has filed a court order to extend the deadline It's time to vote in Cambria County. The Cambria County Board of Elections has taken action to investigate the software issue. For matters of this nature, there is a process in place to receive, secure and count all completed ballots. The County Board of Elections has express voting machines at county locations to continue to facilitate electronic voting. The County Board of Elections will continue to monitor this matter and take all necessary actions to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to cast their vote. We thank the community for their patience and support in resolving this issue. In summary, all votes will be counted and we continue to encourage everyone to cast their vote.”