Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Roughly 35,000 voters took part in early voting over the weekend in Erie County.
"We're not surprised," said Erie County Republican Election Commissioner Ralph Mohr with WBEN on Monday. "We could see demand picking up for absentee ballots, so we expected bigger lines for early voting."
When you combine early voting with absentee ballots already received at the Erie County Board of Elections, Mohr says approximately 9%-to-10% of eligible voters in the county have already cast their ballots.
Some interesting trends are developing after two days of early voting.
"It used to be that Democrats would go and vote early," said Mohr. "Republicans used to resist early voting, and instead vote on Election Day. That has leveled off. Now, early voting is generally more accepted by everyone as being safe, more convenient and it counts exactly the same."
Mohr also says they are seeing a surge in voting in first ring suburban towns, where there are hotly contested down ballot races. That's where early voting turnout has been the greatest.
He said elections officials placed additional stations at the five most-heavily trafficked early voting sites in the county over the weekend.
Registered voters in Erie County can go to any of 38 polling places in the county. Polls are open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m.-to-9 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. ET.
If you're trying to avoid long lines, Mohr suggests you skip peak hours which would be around lunch and dinner time. You can also call the Erie County Board of Elections at (716)-858-8891, and they can tell you how busy your polling place is, and the approximate wait time.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.