1. A method for decoding a codeword comprising: evaluating at least one error locator polynomial from a set of error locator polynomials corresponding to the codeword to determine if the at least one error locator polynomial is valid; and evaluating a final error locator polynomial from the set of error locator polynomials to decode the codeword, the evaluating comprising: determining if the final error locator polynomial is valid by concurrently performing a non-accelerated Chien search and an error evaluation on the final error locator polynomial; performing error correction on the final error locator polynomial in response to a determination that the final error locator polynomial is valid; and signaling a decoding failure in response to a determination that the final error locator polynomial is invalid.