Buffalo, NY (WBEN) With Tuesday's special election in the race for the 61st State Senate seat reaching a climax, nearly 8,000 people cast their ballots in early voting.
"Despite the weather, we had 7,827 voters in the 61st Senate District come out and cast their ballots for the nine days that we've had of early voting," says Erie County Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr. "It ranged from a low of 192 people on the first Sunday to a high which was (Sunday), 1,386." He says every one of the early voting locations had individuals show up to cast their ballots. He says this represents five percent of the eligible voters in the district.
Mohr expects turnout for the special election to be lower, because it is coming at an off-time in the election cycle. But the biggest question appears to be eligibility. "Regardless of party affiliation, if you live in the towns or the city, part of the city of Buffalo, which comprises the 61st Senate District, you are eligible to cast a ballot," says Mohr. He says this is not like a primary, where you would have to be registered with a party. This is like a general election.
Dan Gagliardo and Jeremy Zellner square to fill the seat vacated when Sean Ryan was elected mayor.