Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins called Election Day ballot scanner failures across the county "unacceptable" and pledged to convene a bipartisan team to review what went wrong.

Jenkins issued the statement at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, as MyRye.com reported, while voters at polling locations across the county dealt with machines that could not accept their ballots. The scanner problems affected polling sites countywide, as we reported earlier Tuesday.

"Once these issues are resolved, I will convene a bipartisan team to conduct a thorough review of the decisions and failures that led to this debacle, determine where accountability lies and ensure that this never happens again," Jenkins said in a statement posted on the county website.

He also directed county officials, including representatives from the Law Department, to monitor the voting process.

"Westchester County voters deserve a fair, secure and seamless election process," Jenkins said. "Today, we have fallen short of that standard."

AG James steps in

New York Attorney General Letitia James said on her office's official X account that her staff is tracking the problem and talking to state and local election boards.

"My office is monitoring this issue with scanners in Westchester and is in touch with the state and local Boards of Elections as they work on a solution," James wrote. "Westchester voters can still safely fill out and turn in their ballots at their polling locations. Your votes will count."

What voters need to know

The Westchester County Board of Elections (BOE) said in a separate statement that a paper ballot issue is preventing voting machines from accepting ballots at polling locations throughout the county.

The BOE said voters should continue to fill out their paper ballots as instructed by poll workers.

Completed ballots go into designated orange emergency ballot bags, which the BOE said will remain secure and monitored. Those ballots will be counted in accordance with applicable election procedures, according to the statement.

"Every eligible vote will be counted," the BOE said. "No voter should be discouraged from participating in this election because of this issue."

Jenkins echoed that message, urging voters to stay in line. "Every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast their ballot, and every vote must be counted," he said.

The BOE said it is in constant communication with New York State officials, Westchester County government and poll workers to address the problem.