(The Situation Update Report [SUR] is a near real-time brief of a possible threat or situation being monitored by The Counter Threat Center. The information is accurate at the time of reporting, but maybe subject to change.)
Martina Elena Nitti, Daniela De Luca
Angelina Sammarco, Editor; Evan Beachler, Senior Editor
November 5, 2024
Voting machines[1]
Current Situation: The Pennsylvania Department of State confirmed on X that technical issues occurred at polling stations in Cambria County, where on-site scanning machines malfunctioned on Tuesday morning.[2] The Court of Common Pleas ordered the extension of poll closing time from 2000 to 2200 local time to preserve the voting process, requiring the additional use of provisional ballots. IT experts are addressing the issues, and county officials assured voters that all ballots will be counted, urging them to continue participating in the election.[3]
Day/Time of event: November 5, 2024 / Unknown at Time of Report
What is the current threat:
The malfunctioning of scanning machines at polls will likely discourage Cambria County residents from voting due to fear of electoral fraud. This disruption will likely cause suspicion over the smoothness and accuracy of the voting process and the election outcome.
The extended voting deadline will likely fuel disinformation rhetoric, with critics likely using it to spread false narratives about the voting timeline, with claims of last-minute changes and election rigging allegedly influencing the final result.
Using provisional ballots or paper ballots will likely create confusion among voters, likely instilling doubts about voting methods, particularly voting suppression.
Extending the election deadline will very likely fuel skepticism and increase fear of interference from malicious actors in the voting process. This mistrust will likely discourage people from voting and corrode trust among voters.
Polarized voters will likely use these technical issues to incite violence and physical confrontations at polling stations as a form of contestation. Elections officials, poll workers, and volunteers will likely become targets of such unrest and protests.
Who will it directly impact:
Cambria County voters
Cambria County Board of Election (BOE)
Security officials at election polls
Local law enforcement personnel
US election officials
Cybersecurity agencies
Voter protection organizations
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[1] Ballot counting machines, generated by a third party database
[2] Pennsylvania Department of State account on X, 2024 https://x.com/pastatedept/status/1853810980414697806?s=46
[3] Pennsylvania's Cambria County has voting hours extended after scan error, Action News 4, 2024 https://www.wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-voting-machine-error-cambria-county/