Voting machine fault and bad weather hit US midterm polls

NEW YORK: Polling has begun in the United States midterm elections, but voters in several states face serious difficulties because of technical problems and bad weather.

According to Arab media, voting machines at several polling stations in Westchester County, New York, are not accepting ballot papers because of a technical fault. Reports say the problems with the scanners began shortly after polling started this morning.

New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office is continuously monitoring the scanner problem. She said it is in contact with the state and local election boards so that the problem can be resolved quickly.

In a post on the Social Media platform X, she reassured voters. She said Westchester voters can still fill in their ballot papers safely and submit them at polling stations, and their votes will be counted.

Difficulties caused by Weather

Elsewhere, heavy rain, Floods and storms in several other states of the United States have also badly affected the election process. In Florida, heavy rain and flash floods late on Monday night and on Tuesday forced at least 18 polling stations to be moved.

In Oklahoma, a tornado on Sunday badly damaged a community centre that was to be used for voting. The polling station had to be moved as a result.

Because of the severe Weather, the Governor of Utah has declared a state of emergency and announced a special arrangement in San Juan County. Under it, voters trapped by flood water can request and submit their ballot papers electronically.

As a storm system moves east from the central United States, meteorologists on Tuesday forecast the possibility of flash floods in parts of Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.