Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Cold weather not withstanding, some Erie County residents still felt, what they called, "a sense of obligation" to cast their ballots in a Feb. 3 special election for the 61st State Senate District.
The rare special election pits Jeremy Zellner, the endorsed Democrat Party candidate against Republican and Conservative Parties challenger Dan Gagliardo for the State Senate seat that had been held by now-Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan.
The district covers a portion of Buffalo, all of Grand Island, the City and Town of Tonawanda, portions of Amherst along with the Villages of Kenmore and Williamsville.
"It's a privilege to vote," said Amherst Councilman John Davis, who was about to cast his vote. "A lot of people sacrificed a lot for us to have this privilege."
According to the Erie County Board of Elections, there are 215,000 registered voters in the 61st District - accounting for nearly one-third of the 635,000 registered voters in the county.
Howard Johnson, county Board of Elections commissioner, is predicting a 10% voter turnout.
The district skews heavily towards enrolled Democrat and Working Family parties with 94,586 registered voters compared with 54,399 registered Republican and Conservative Party voters.
There are also 56,595 registered independent and smaller, third party voters.
Party registrations aside, those voters who were interviewed Tuesday morning frequently repeated the same reasons for casting their ballots...obligation and privileges.
"Voting is necessary to keep the country going in the right direction," said Pat Lemoncelli. "Our forefathers would not be pleased with people not voting. It's shame if they don't."
Amherst residentJoAnn Hilburger said voting is one way for her voice to be heard.
"It's either that or running for office," Hilburger said.