Polls Close Across Pennsylvania, Except in One County

Polls have closed across the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, with the exception of one county where voting hours were extended due to issues with ballot scanners.
After several counties in western Pennsylvania reported problems with machines that scan and count paper ballots, a state judge ordered polls in Cambria and Luzerne Counties to remain open for an additional two hours. Both counties leaned toward former President Donald Trump in 2020.
Election workers acted quickly to inform voters of the changes to avoid confusion. “We have backups in place,” Deputy Constable Jim Clark told Newsweek.
“If a ballot isn’t scanned, it’s placed in a locked box and sent to a central location. There, it’s opened in front of multiple people to ensure security. If it’s not scanned at one site, it can be scanned elsewhere. This was communicated immediately, so people didn’t need to worry.”
The Pennsylvania Department of State extended voting until 10 p.m. in Cambria County due to software issues that forced a switch to paper ballots, causing delays. In Luzerne County, polls remained open until 9:30 p.m. Despite these adjustments, some voters expressed little concern.
“I’m not worried, honestly,” said a member of the local Republican committee. “It’s just nerve-wracking to have to wait even longer during such an intense presidential campaign,” they added, highlighting a general sense of calm amid the unusual situation.
For many Pennsylvania residents, the delays had minimal impact. Heather Keim, who voted with her family after work, told Newsweek, “Nothing changed timewise.”
Another voter, Laura Argenbright, felt the extension “actually made things easier.”
While some voters expressed concern about potential delays in ballot counting, Clark, a 13-year election oversight veteran, expressed confidence in the process.
“I’m not worried,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 13 years, and we’ve never had any problems. It’s a well-behaved area.”
Still, election officials are working under considerable stress to maintain a smooth process.
“Our workers are dedicated,” Clark said. “But around 9:30, I’ll probably be wishing someone would put me out of my misery. That is all I can say on it,” he joked, reflecting on the demanding day.
In 2020, Joe Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania with 50.01 percent of the vote, bringing the state back to the Democrats after their 2016 loss. Trump had defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 48.18 percent to 47.46 percent.
Polling experts suggest Pennsylvania could once again play a crucial role in deciding whether Vice President Kamala Harris or Trump heads to the White House in 2025.