On Election Day, voters in Queens faced long lines and delays due to malfunctioning ballot scanners at polling centers. The scanners at various locations were not working properly, causing some voters to wait for over 50 minutes to cast their ballots. At P.S. 112 Q in Astoria, two out of three scanners were malfunctioning, leading to a 35-minute wait for voters. Additionally, at Astoria’s St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, all four scanners were not working when the center opened, causing a late start to the voting process.
Similar issues were reported at other polling sites across Queens, with some voters having to scan their ballots multiple times before they were accepted. Some voters were even asked to leave their ballots in emergency bins to be scanned later. There were also allegations on social media that some poll workers were voiding ballots that could not be scanned.
Despite these challenges, Assembly Member Sam Berger emphasized that there was no evidence of election interference and called for transparency from the Queens Board of Elections. The Board of Elections assured the public that all ballots cast would be counted, and technicians were dispatched to address the scanner issues.
The NYC Board of Elections has not provided a reason for the widespread scanner malfunctions in Queens. Voters can check for wait times at polling sites using the Election Tool Wait Time Map to plan their visit accordingly. Overall, the Board of Elections is working to ensure that all votes are counted accurately and that voters are not disenfranchised due to technical difficulties.
