New Bedford Voting Machines Malfunction at Four Precincts

Election machine issues at four New Bedford precincts were resolved or worked around on election day, with voting continuing at all sites.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a plain deep red ballot box silhouette centered on a cream field, evoking the election-day voting disruption in New Bedford. — Voting machines at four New Bedford precincts malfunctioned on election day, with officials resolving the problems and voting continuing at every site. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do machine problems at local polls make you trust your community's elections less?

Election machines malfunctioned at four New Bedford precincts on the morning of election day, affecting voting at those locations. Officials adjusted internal wires in the machines, and voting continued at the affected precincts.

Why it matters

The malfunctions affected voters casting ballots for governor, nine ballot questions, and other offices on election day in New Bedford. Officials worked to keep voting moving at each affected site.

Four precincts reported machine issues, and the 17-inch ballots appear to have contributed to internal wire interference at precincts 3D, 3F, and 6F. Precinct 5F's machine was unavailable for about 40 to 45 minutes due to a tray problem, and the cause of the wire interference beyond ballot size remains unconfirmed.

The details

On election day, an internal wire in machines at precincts 3D, 3F and 6F interfered with the ballot feed port, and officials adjusted the wire positions to restore normal function. At precinct 5F, a tray problem left the machine unavailable for about 40 to 45 minutes, and ballots were placed in a secure tray at the bottom of the machine, which will be hand counted on location when polls close.

Election day, November 3, 2026: machine issues reported at four New Bedford precincts in the morning.
Election day, November 3, 2026, at poll closing: hand count of ballots in the precinct 5F secure tray.

Seasonal Patterns

Hand counting secure-tray ballots at the close of polls follows the same contingency procedure used when precinct equipment is unavailable, with the ballots counted on location rather than moved or processed later.

Voters at the affected New Bedford precincts continued to cast ballots after the issues were worked around, so their votes were still recorded. Ballots placed in the precinct 5F secure tray will be counted by hand at the precinct when polls close.

The takeaway

Voters whose precinct experienced machine issues should know that voting continued and that contingency procedures, such as the secure tray hand count, are in place to keep ballots counted.