**Voting Machine Glitches Extend Election Day Hours in Cambria County**

Voters in the heavily conservative Cambria County, Pennsylvania, were granted an additional two hours to cast their ballots on Election Day due to significant issues with voting machines. This technical mishap led to confusion and long lines, potentially jeopardizing voter turnout in this pivotal battleground state. Similar problems were reported in neighboring Bedford County.

The complications arose from a malfunction in the electronic voting system, which prevented ballots from being scanned, according to Cambria County Solicitor Ron Repak. He assured voters not to be discouraged, announcing that a court order had been filed to extend voting until 10 p.m. to accommodate those affected.

Nathan Anderson, a voter from Johnstown—the largest city in Cambria—faced issues when attempting to cast his vote for Donald Trump. Despite being able to submit his ballot into a lockbox for later scanning, Anderson expressed concerns about whether it would be accurately counted. Many voters opted to leave their ballots with poll workers rather than return once the machines were fixed.

County election officials quickly took action by filing emergency paperwork to extend the voting time, which a judge approved. However, ballots cast after the standard 8 p.m. deadline will be provisional. Repak noted that the malfunction had caused significant voter confusion and long lines, with some individuals leaving polling locations without voting.

In Bedford County, several precincts reported tabulation machine issues, prompting local officials to send support teams to resolve the problem. Jeffrey Gable, director of Elections in Bedford County, reassured the public that voting had not been impacted.

Pennsylvania, holding the most electoral college votes among swing states in the 2024 election, remains a critical battleground. Trump narrowly lost the state by just over one percentage point in 2020, and recent polls indicate a tight race. The technical glitches have raised concerns among Republicans, who have been vigilant for any voting irregularities.

Ron Repak highlighted the county's robust response to the software issues, emphasizing that all ballots would be counted. He detailed the measures taken, including deploying IT specialists and providing express voting machines to ensure voting could continue electronically.

While the Pennsylvania Department of State collaborates with local officials to address the technical issues, voter Jessie Anderson expressed relief at having voted early, anticipating potential Election Day problems. The department reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair, secure election despite the day's setbacks.

Trump's call for supporters to remain in line and vote despite the long waits underscored the high stakes of the election. He maintained that voter enthusiasm was essential to making America great again, urging followers to persevere through any difficulties at the polls.