Chester County Polls Open Until 10 p.m. After Voter List Issue

Chester County, Pennsylvania faced polling complications on a recent election day, prompting a judge to extend polling hours until 10 p.m. The issue primarily affected independent and third-party voters, who were not listed in the poll books at several locations.

Polling Hours Extended in Chester County

The election day disruption led to uncertainty among voters about their ballots. Chester County officials quickly acted to provide corrected poll books to all 230 precincts throughout the county.

Impact on Voters

After realizing the issue, independent and third-party voters were allowed to cast provisional ballots. Many voters expressed their concerns. Maria Amado, a resident of Charlestown Township, stated, “I will be following up to see that it counted.”

• Voter uncertainty was widespread, with many questioning whether their votes would be counted.
• Schuylkill Township voter Rolph Gerstenberger also voiced apprehension about his voting status.

Response from Officials

Chester County CEO David Byerman reassured voters about the voting process, saying, “Whether a vote is counted in the traditional process or through the provisional process, those votes count equally.”

Understanding the Issue

The root cause of the polling problem was identified as the erroneous use of the primary roll book instead of the election day book. Chester County Democratic Committee Chair Charlotte Valyo noted this as a possible explanation but emphasized that further investigation is needed.

• Both Democratic and Republican party leaders found the situation concerning.
• Raffe Terzian, chair of the Republican Committee, labeled the event as “outrageous.”

Valyo, while expressing disappointment, suggested that the incident should not undermine voter trust, calling it an “honest mistake.” Byerman confirmed that a thorough investigation would follow to determine whether the issue stemmed from state or county errors.

Looking Forward

As Chester County moves forward, officials aim to address the challenge and prevent similar occurrences in the future. Voters can track their provisional ballots online for reassurance and transparency.