PITTSBURGH -- Polls throughout Pennsylvania closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, but problems in some parts of Allegheny County prompted an unprecedented legal move.

Judge Lawrence O'Toole extended the voting deadline for provisional ballots to 9:30 p.m. in Allegheny County. Votes during the extra 90-minute period were only accepted at the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh.

O'Toole acknowledges that it's the state Legislature, and not him, who has the authority to extend a voting deadline, but he issued the ruling anyway.

Video: Provisional Deadline Updates, With Meghan Jones And Jon Greiner

In several Allegheny County precincts, people who should have been casting their votes with provisional ballots were reportedly permitted to use voting machines instead.

Also, there was a shortage of provisional ballots at polling places, which led to long backups. Hundreds of people were said to be waiting to vote at the University of Pittsburgh, where the line stretched across Forbes Avenue, and also at California University of Pennsylvania in Washington County.

Voters who showed up at the City-County Building were provided with a shortened provisional ballot that only included the races for president, U.S. Senate and state row offices.

Provisional ballots are intended for people whose names don't show up on voter rolls but who believe that they are registered to vote. If the eligibility of a provisional voter is confirmed after Election Day, his or her ballot will count.

Provisional ballots are subject to legal challenges.

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