Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was a sense of privilege, rights and obligation that helped draw Billy Mitchell to his Amherst polling place Tuesday morning.
And the races too.
"You can't complain, if you don't vote," said Mitchell.
Early morning voting at Amherst was stronger than expected - and that is a good sign, perhaps a political bellwether for Election Day.
The draw: The gubernatorial race between incumbent and Western New Yorker Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and her Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.
Then there was the midterm Congressional races along with key ballot issues in places like Amherst and Buffalo.
Taken together, it was a busy morning at the polls.
"It was more like a presidential year than a mid term," said Donna, a 9-year election inspector in Amherst. "In terms of being busy, I'd give it an 8 out of 10."
This was after nearly 100,000 local voters took place in the early voting cycle.
Support for Hochul brought Reed and Bridget Halla Cosa to the polls.
"The federal government under (President) Trump has cut funds for the department of health and I'm afraid Blakeman will do the same thing," Bridget Halla Cosa said.
Reed Halla Cosa, Bridget's husband, agrees.
"I just don't think the Republicans have a good grasp on city or state issues," Reed Halla Cosa said.
Voting, however, is something more basic says Amherst resident Laurie Dean.
"It is part of democracy," Dean said.
Election Day is here and voters are responding in a big way
Election Day is here and voters are responding in a big way
