Cambria County voting issues prompt response from officials

Cambria County voting issues cause delays; officials respond with extended polling hours to ensure ballot counting.

Cambria County residents faced significant challenges at the polls on Tuesday morning as voting for the 2024 Presidential election began, with many reporting issues in casting ballots. 

Frustrated voters in Central Pennsylvania took to social media to express their concerns. One user on X, formerly Twitter, shared a video of a long line with the caption, “The entire county can’t submit votes.” 

Our county right now!!! The entire county can’t submit votes #cambriacounty #PA #election #andsoitstarts pic.twitter.com/w5PGkN9qRk

— Kimmy J 🖤💛🖤💛 (@KimJFlanders) November 5, 2024

Another post read, “Voting machines across an entire county in PA are offline – Cambria County. Voters are asked to place a provisional ballot. The cheat is on.”

BREAKING: Voting machines across an entire county in PA are offline - Cambria county. Voters are asked to place a provisional ballot. The cheat is on.

— Futurist™ (@americasgreat) November 5, 2024

In response, Cambria County solicitor Ron Repak issued a statement addressing the situation. “The Cambria County Board of Election learned early this morning that a software malfunction in the County’s Electronic Voting System has prevented voters from scanning their ballots,” Repak said. 

Repak urged residents not to be discouraged from voting, explaining that the Board had requested a Court Order to extend voting hours within the county. Repak also assured voters that “all completed ballots will be accepted, secured, and counted.”

To address the issue, IT specialists were dispatched, and backup express voting machines were provided to precincts. Repak thanked the community for their patience, affirming, “all votes will be counted,” and encouraged residents to continue voting.