WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County is moving forward with an independent investigation into the Election Day error that left more than 75,000 third-party voters missing from poll books across all 230 precincts, a mistake that triggered thousands of provisional ballots and renewed scrutiny of local election procedures.
County Government CEO David Byerman announced that West Chester–based Fleck Eckert Klein McGarry, LLC (FEKM) has been selected to lead the review. Ten firms were invited to submit proposals for the inquiry, which will examine how the poll books for the November 4, 2025 election were produced with incomplete voter data.
The omission affected voters registered as Independent, Libertarian, Green Party, Non-Partisan, and No Affiliation. In total, 12,600 provisional ballots were cast — most tied directly to the poll book error — after on-site officials were instructed to follow standard procedure until supplemental books could be delivered.
Byerman said the launch of the investigation marks a decisive step toward rebuilding public trust. “Today’s hearing marked an important first step toward restoring trust in Chester County’s democratic process,” he said. “We deeply regret the errors that occurred on and before Election Day, and through this review we commit to identifying the root causes of the problem and ensuring that it does not happen again.”
FEKM was ultimately chosen for its experience in complex investigations, its understanding of election-related law, and its independence from county operations. The firm will begin work immediately, conducting interviews with county personnel and reviewing internal controls, communication practices, and poll book preparation procedures.
The investigation will focus on five core questions:
• How incomplete poll books were produced;
• What controls were in place to ensure accuracy;
• Whether those controls failed due to human error or systemic gaps;
• What impeded Voter Services staff from identifying or reporting issues;
• And why delays occurred in delivering supplemental poll books on Election Day.
FEKM’s final report — including findings, conclusions, and recommendations — is due December 19. A public presentation will follow at a Board of Elections meeting in mid to late January 2026. The firm’s contract is capped at $35,000.
The Election Day disruption became apparent shortly after polls opened at 7:00 a.m., when Voter Services identified that 75,076 third-party voters were missing from the county’s 385,856-person registration list. A court order later extended voting hours countywide to help offset the impact of the error.
As Chester County works through adjudication of the remaining provisional ballots, officials are positioning the independent investigation as a necessary step toward ensuring stronger oversight, transparency, and accountability in future elections.
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