Chester County Grapples with Fallout from Poll Book Error

An outside investigation found 'human error' caused the Election Day mistake, but some demand consequences.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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An outside investigation into a poll book error that omitted more than 70,000 third-party voters in Chester County, Pennsylvania during the 2025 election has not quelled concerns from some residents. The report found the error was caused by an election worker checking the wrong box when configuring the poll books. However, some attendees at a recent public meeting called for accountability, with one former employee demanding the termination of the county's voter services director.

Why it matters

The poll book error in Chester County, a key swing county in a battleground state, raised concerns about election integrity and transparency. While the investigation determined it was an isolated incident due to human error, the fallout highlights the importance of robust election safeguards and the need to address any perceived issues of mismanagement within election administration.

The details

The investigation report, conducted by the law firm Fleck Eckert Klein, found that an unnamed election worker checked the wrong box - one titled 'only voters for the major parties' - when configuring the poll books, leading to the omission of over 70,000 third-party voters. Other contributing factors included insufficient safeguards, limited supervision, inadequate training, high staff turnover, and a lack of verification controls.

  • The poll book error occurred on Election Day 2025.
  • The outside investigation report was released in February 2026.

The players

Karen Barsoum

The director of Chester County Voter Services, who has faced allegations of creating a toxic work environment from former employees.

Nathan Prospero Fox

A former Chester County elections employee who spoke at the public meeting, alleging that employees who raised concerns about management problems were no longer working for voter services.

Diane Hauser

A resident of Uwchlan Township who spoke at the public meeting, demanding that those at the top be held accountable for the 'massive error'.

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What they’re saying

“Bottom line is this appears to be a human error in clicking the wrong box for a general election. That box should not have been checked for a general election. The box that was checked should only be used during the primary.”

— Sigmund Fleck, Attorney, Fleck Eckert Klein (whyy.org)

“The failure to do one's job, such as overseeing our elections, is a dereliction of duty, which should lead to a disciplinary action or termination. Who at the top is going to be held accountable for this massive error?”

— Diane Hauser, Uwchlan Township Resident (whyy.org)

“I saw multiple people go through proper channels, such as human resources and contacting the commissioners, to address the management problem within voter services. Do you know what happened to all of those people? None of them work for voter services anymore. Some by choice, some not by choice. So I will say this: Thank you for your time. And fire Karen Barsoum.”

— Nathan Prospero Fox, Former Chester County Elections Employee (whyy.org)

What’s next

The Chester County Board of Elections has not indicated any specific next steps, but residents are demanding accountability and consequences for the poll book error.

The takeaway

The fallout from the Chester County poll book error highlights the importance of robust election safeguards, transparency, and effective leadership in election administration. While the investigation found it was an isolated incident due to human error, the persistent concerns from residents underscore the need to address any perceived issues of mismanagement to maintain public trust in the electoral process.