Voting Machine Glitches Briefly Disrupt New Bedford Polls: What Happened

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — There were some issues with election machines in New Bedford earlier this morning, but they appear to have been solved and voting has continued without impediment.

New Bedford voters are turning out today to vote for a number of offices, including the governor's race between Maura Healey and Mike Minogue, as well as nine ballot questions.

According to city spokesperson Jack Thuon, there were issues reported at four different precincts this morning.

The size of the ballots caused an issue in three different precincts: 3D (Taber Mill Community Center), 3F (Bayberry Apartments), and 6F (New Life Southcoast Church).

Technical Wire Interference Caused by 17-Inch Ballots

“An internal wire in the machines at these locations was found to be physically interfering with the port on the machine where ballots are fed,” Thuon said. “The size of the ballot (being 17 inches instead of the more typical 14 inches) may have contributed to the interference. Elections officials adjusted the position of the wires and the machine returned to functioning normally.”

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Precinct 5F Temporary Tray Malfunction and Hand Counting

At Precinct 5F (the Buttonwood Park Warming House), a problem with the tray in the machine caused the machine to be unavailable for about 40 to 45 minutes. According to Thuon, voting continued as ballots were placed in the secure tray at the bottom of the machine and will be hand counted on location when polls close.

Previously Issues With Jammed Voting Machines in New Bedford

In November 2025, there were also issues at 3D, as well as 1D (Vibra Hospital) when ballots were jamming in the machines. Assistant City Solicitor Ryan Pavao told WBSM at the time that the jams were due to creased absentee ballots and the machines were returned to use within five to 10 minutes.

A similar issue happened in October 2025 during the city’s preliminary election with machines jamming at the Buttonwood Warming House. Jams also occurred during the March 2024 presidential primary at 1D, 1B (CareOne) and 3F.

In 2022, 1B experienced issues with a jammed machine and voters were asked to leave their ballots on a chair to be counted later.