BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW-TV) — The Associated Press is reporting that early voting across the nation has now surpassed all those who voted early in 2016 when Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were facing off for the presidency.
President Trump is now facing a challenge from former Vice-President Joe Biden and the contest is generating voter turnout unlike anything seen in recent years. Some are estimating that total votes placed could set a new record for early voting, when all is done, at 100 million early votes.
In WNY, Board of Elections commissioners tell 7 Eyewitness News that turnout is higher than expected with lines in some places.
Early voting continues in New York State until Sunday, November 1.
7 Eyewitness News did a check to see how things were going as of Monday afternoon October, 26 in eight WNY counties. Here is what we found:
ERIE COUNTY - 26,200 early voters at 37 sites.
NIAGARA COUNTY - 4,000 early voters at two sites.
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY - 2,563 early voters at three sites.
GENESEE COUNTY - More than 1,600 early voters since Saturday with busy conditions and lines currently reported on Monday.
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY - 1,454 early votes with lines continuing on Monday.
ORLEANS COUNTY - 982 early voters
ALLEGANY COUNTY - 1,139 early voters with a constant stream of voters coming to a single location. Allegany County is also seeing a huge demand for absentee ballots. In 2016, the county mailed out 1,300 and received 1,200 back. This year, Allegany County has sent out 3,446 absentee ballots with 2,168 returned so far.
In the attached video clip, Reporter Ed Reilly talks with voters in long lines for early voting in Niagara Falls.
