HARRISBURG, PA — A glitch in Chester County’s voter roll system caused confusion and long lines on Election Day, prompting a late-night court order to extend polling hours as election officials scrambled to correct missing voter names.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said Pennsylvania’s election remained “safe and secure,” despite the mishap that temporarily prevented some Chester County residents from appearing in poll books when polls opened Tuesday morning. The missing names affected third-party and unaffiliated voters — a discovery that led to provisional voting and emergency fixes throughout the day.
“Though Election Day falls only twice per year, most of these dedicated public servants work year-round to mitigate against potential problems when it’s time for voters to choose their elected officials,” Schmidt said. He credited state staff for working “hand-in-hand” with local officials to restore access as quickly as possible.
After county staff realized the poll books were incomplete, the Department of State helped Chester County create and distribute supplemental poll books listing the missing voters. Before those books arrived, affected residents could vote only by provisional ballot.
A judge later ordered polls to remain open until 10 p.m. to ensure every eligible voter had the chance to cast a ballot. Voters who were already in line by the regular 8 p.m. closing time were permitted to vote normally, while those arriving afterward were again required to use provisional ballots.
State officials emphasized that all votes — including provisional and mail ballots — will be counted as part of the normal canvassing process.
Across Pennsylvania, more than 1.1 million mail ballots were issued this election, with about 81.5 percent returned by the deadline. Final turnout figures are expected in the coming days once counties complete the count of mail, provisional, military, and overseas ballots.
While Schmidt praised election workers statewide for ensuring another “safe and secure” election, Chester County’s technical breakdown reignited voter frustration and underscored ongoing concerns about local election readiness — a reminder that even minor errors can ripple across Pennsylvania’s closely watched elections.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.