Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Nine days of early voting across New York State has ended with record numbers locally and statewide.
The Erie County Board of Elections reports 16,513 ballots were cast on the ninth and final day of early voting. Since early voting began on Saturday, Oct. 24, 167,938 ballots have been cast in Erie County, compared to 26,514 in 2019. That is equal to 26.6% of Erie County's nearly 630,000 registered voters
Erie County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Jeremy Zellner says the appetite to vote early has been overwhelming. "Nearly 40% of the county has cast their ballots," Zellner told WBEN Monday morning. Zellner predicts one of the highest election turnouts ever, perhaps in the 75-80% range when all is said and done.
Statewide, more than 2.2 million people had voted in person through Saturday, according to the New York State Board of Elections, or about 17% of registered voters. On top of the early voting numbers, more than a million voters have returned absentee ballots.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted.
Lines for early voting appeared shorter on Sunday than several days last week, when the state was criticized for having too few voting locations.
This was the first time New York has allowed early voting in a presidential election. Early voting ended Sunday afternoon and New York doesn't offer the option on Monday. People can vote in person at the polls on Election Day.
New York lawmakers this year allowed voters to request absentee ballots for the general election out of concern over in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. The state typically had allowed voters to request absentee ballots only if they fall into one of several categories, including absence from one's county on Election Day.
There are 280 early polling sites statewide, including 37 site in Erie County. In 35 counties, there is only one early voting site.
The rush to vote is leading election experts to predict a record 150 million votes cast nationwide, with turnout rates higher than in any presidential election since 1908.
New York's overall turnout was projected to top two-thirds of 12 million registered voters. The state did not allow early voting in 2016.
