Published on: November 6, 2024
Cambria County had its voting period extended following a technical malfunction that prevented some voters from casting their ballots.
As a result, ballots were extended until 10 P.M.
IT specialists were immediately called in to address the software issues while officials reassured citizens that every vote would be counted and that the malfunction would not impact the process, besides causing some confusion.
Officials were not completely unprepared for this result. Before opening the polls on Tuesday morning, they declared that paper ballots would be retained under lock and key. While the software malfunction caused some delays, paper ballots are being properly safeguarded against threats.
“The malfunction caused voter confusion, long lines of voters, and many individuals left the polling locations without casting a ballot,” reads an emergency petition. The officials warned that it “threatens to disenfranchise a significant number of voters in Cambria County.”
Voters who were in line before 8 PM were allowed to stay until 10 PM to cast their ballot. Anyone who got in line after 8 was given a provisional ballot.
Since Pennsylvania is a swing state, winning the vote is important for either US presidential candidate. Many experts believe Pennsylvania is a key swing state with enough voting power to influence the election’s outcome, making the state a fierce battleground.
The extension was met with a wave of suspicion from citizens, who voiced their concerns over social media. Conspiracy theories immediately rose to the surface.
“We are watching this time, PA,” writes one X user. “You will be held accountable for cheating.”
“Because you got caught cheating…again,” states another.
Despite the conspiracy theories arising from the extension, there is currently no evidence to suggest any interference.