Some NYC voters report scanners in Queens took multiple tries. Officials say "any ballot cast will be counted."
NEW YORK -- Some New York City voters reported that it took several attempts to scan their ballots at polling sites in Queens on Election Day, but officials insist every ballot will be counted.
CBS News New York is looking into potential problems at PS2Q The Alfred Zimberg School in East Elmhurst, PS184 in Whitestone, and JHS 190 Russell Sage in Forest Hills, Queens.
Cameras captured machines malfunctioning at all three sites. The ballots went in, then right back out again and again.
"I had to try, like, about 42 times," said Martha Tapiero, a voter in Whitestone.
The New York City Board of Elections confirmed there were some issues feeding ballots into voting machines early Tuesday morning in Queens, but officials said "corrective measures were undertaken" and voting was not impacted.
"Earlier today, we were notified that scanners in some Queens poll sites required multiple attempts to scan a ballot. Technicians were immediately dispatched, and corrective measures were undertaken. In an abundance of caution, we had all 290 sites in Queens inspected," the BOE said in a statement at 11:21 a.m. "Voters are voting and have been voting all day. Voters have not been impacted beyond additional attempts to scan their ballot or have it placed in the emergency bin as protocol.
"We want to assure the public any ballot cast will be counted."
Officials said this is not rare and the machines often get overwhelmed during high turnout elections.
Some voters describe issues casting their ballots
"The voting experience was totally fine, it was seamless. Everyone pointed me in the directions I needed to go to, and they did everything that they needed to do so I can vote properly, and it was good," voter Raymond Cabral said.
But not everyone felt the same. Voter Kris Paredes said she waited in line for three hours at PS184 before being able to cast her ballot.
"They don't seem very prepared. I've never seen this before. It was insane," she said.
She also said there were no Spanish-speaking poll workers to assist voters.
"No one seems prepared. No bilingual translators. There were a couple Latino women and they didn't know what was going on. One woman walked out with her ballot because she didn't understand what they were saying to her," Paredes said.
The BOE told CBS News New York there was one translator at that location and after we reached out, they increased that number to three.
Voters at JHS 190 told CBS News New York's Mahsa Saeidi at one point, only one machine was working. There was a technician on site, but for some people, the wait was three hours. Some voters said the unusually warm temperatures outside made it feel like a sauna inside.
Samuel Assouliene, who relies on an oxygen tank, waited two hours to cast his vote. His neighbor held a space for him in line.
"A lot of people were in there and just confused. Where do you stand? Which line do you check in?" voter Linda Zayas said.
New Yorkers stuck waiting in long lines on Election Day
There were long lines at some polling places in New York City.
In Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, a problem with ballot scanners contributed to long wait times, even after the issue was resolved.
At the Flatbush Tompkins Congregational Church, hundreds of people waited in a line that wrapped around the building. Some voters told CBS News New York's Naveen Dhaliwal they had been waiting for up to two and a half hours.
Election Day 2024 in NYC in full swing
New York polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Voters who are in line by 9 p.m. should be allowed to cast their ballots.
New Yorkers are weighing in on the 2024 presidential election, plus key congressional races and several ballot measures, including Proposition 1. In the city, the ballot measures are aimed at changing the Charter. On the state level, Proposition 1 would make abortion rights part of the state constitution.
CBS News New York's Natalie Duddridge spoke with voters in Tarrytown, who said they were eager for the election to be over and to finally see the results.
"Anxious, I was looking at selfies that I took and I'm seeing a stress vein popping out of my forehead, but hopeful," said voter Jessica Reed.
"Positive, but I'm on the edge of my seat," another voter added.
New York held nine days of early voting, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5. The New York City Board of Elections said more than 1.89 million people voted early across the five boroughs, with Queens having the highest turnout at nearly 346,000.
Find more information about what's on the ballot in New Jersey here and in Connecticut here. Stick with CBS News New York for live team coverage of the local races.
