Paper ballot shortages spark Election Day scramble at polling places in several states

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Voters in multiple states encountered paper ballot shortages on Election Day Tuesday, and some left polling places without casting ballots as election officials scrambled to address disruptions during the high-stakes 2026 midterms.

Ballot shortages were reported at polling locations in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland as voters headed to the polls Tuesday.

In Linwood, Kansas, where voters were casting ballots in a closely watched Senate race as Republicans fight to maintain control of the chamber, a ballot shortage forced some voters to leave their polling place without casting a ballot after election officials failed to provide enough ballots to meet demand.

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One voter told the Kansas Reflector that her 18-year-old son left without voting after officials ran out of paper ballots. She said she saw another 10 to 15 people leave without casting ballots.

Leavenworth County said in a press release the ballot shortage occurred due to an error in the number of ballots ordered.

"The shortage was discovered early, and efforts to correct the mistake began immediately. We recognize the importance of ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot. We sincerely apologize for this mistake and any inconvenience or concern it may have caused," the press release said. 

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"The number of ballots needed was 1,000, the polling station received only 100. The situation has since been remedied since early this morning, and voters are able to vote," the Kansas Secretary of State communications spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

In Chicago, voters encountered ballot shortages at several polling locations, prompting election officials to deliver additional ballots and direct voters to alternative voting centers, according to ABC7 Chicago.

"There are several precincts for which the board is printing and delivering extra paper ballots and possible extra touch-screen voting machines. As far as we know, no voters have been turned away or unable to vote," the Chicago Board of Elections told the outlet.

"It's not unusual for an election authority to have to supply additional ballots to a polling place if turnout is higher than anticipated," Illinois State Board of Elections Public Information Officer Matt Dietrich told Fox News Digital.

"We've heard from voters that there are lines at some Chicago polling places but, again, that's not out of the ordinary in a general election."

In Brandywine, Maryland, voters faced long lines and delays Tuesday after Brandywine Elementary School, a polling location in Prince George’s County, ran out of paper ballots, according to local outlet WJLA.

The school did not have correct ballots, which were later corrected, Prince George’s County Board of Elections Administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey told local outlet The Banner.

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"The State Board of Election's (SBE) mission is to ensure voting occurs. We, of course, conduct lessons learned after every election and will do so after this election. Once made aware of this situation, more ballots and supplies were deployed to the polling place," an SBE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

While ballot shortages may be gripping some polling precincts, voting machines in Westchester County, New York, are rejecting paper ballots at polling locations throughout the county.

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"A change affecting a contest in one municipality required updated election programming, which was subsequently tested and deployed for early voting and for Election Day machines in that municipality," the county’s Board of Elections said in a statement.

"However, Election Day machines elsewhere in the county continued to use the original programming and therefore could not recognize and accept the ballots being used for Election Day."

Ashley J. DiMella reports on politics for Fox News Digital.