Harsh winter weather - including reports of heavy snow fall and single-digit temperatures - could impact the number of in-person voters who cast ballots for a Feb. 3 special election covering the State Senate seat that was held by Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan.
Early, in-person voting begins on Jan. 24 and lasts until Feb. 1. During that same period some of the toughest winter weather is anticipated.
"I just don't see any issues because of the weather," said Erie County Board of Elections Commissioner Howard Johnson, himself a former Erie County Legislator. "Buffalo people are pretty hardy."
The election pits Jeremy Zellner, Erie County Democratic Party chairman, against Dan Gagliardo, a Republican and Amherst businessman. Whoever wins will finish out the remaining nine months of Ryan's former State Senate term.
The district covers portions of the City of Buffalo along with all of the Town and City of Tonawanda and the towns of Grand Island and Amherst.
There are 215,000 registered voters in the district, according to Board of Elections data. At 215,000 registered voters it translates to roughly one-third of the 635,000 registered voters in all of Erie County.
"We've dealt with bad weather before," said Ralph Mohr, Erie County Board of Elections commissioner.
Interest in the race - which is rare for this region to even have a special election - is strong with the county Board of Elections - through Jan. 22 - issuing 4,100 absentee ballots and 500 of those already returned. Absentee ballots can be requested through Jan. 24 at the Board of Elections.
"I see no reason why, even with the weather, that this election will come off as any election normally does," Johnson said.
There will be a June primary for the State Senate - and other races - along with the November general election.