Lines form as early voting begins in WNY
Voters around Western New York lined up to cast their ballots as early voting opened Saturday in New York State. Early voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.
Long lines
Voters line up to participate in early voting at the polling place in the St. Charles Borromeo Center in Niagara Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Almost there
Voters are almost at the front door after about two and a half hours in line to participate in early voting at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Careful selections
Kristen Mendoza of Buffalo fills out her ballot at the early voting polling place in the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Vote is cast
Angie Zimmerman of Amherst, who waited in line for two and half hours, raises her arms as she successfully casts her ballot at the early voting polling place in the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Simple message
Karen Williams Powell of Buffalo wears a face mask that reads "VOTE" as she participates in the Souls to the Polls rally outside Community Access Services of WNY before marching to vote at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Leading the charge
Mark Glasgow, president of the Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals, leads the Souls to the Polls march down Bailey Avenue on the way to vote at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Souls to the Polls
Rita Ware and her granddaughter Ramiyah, 6, wear matching T-shirts at the Souls to the Polls rally outside Community Access Services of WNY before marching to vote at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Line around the block
Voters line up around the block to participate in early voting outside the polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
First in line
Standing in line since 8:30am, Jared Gressley of the Town of Tonawanda is first in line to vote in early voting outside the polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Prepared
Laurie Redanz of Lewiston carries a lawn chair for her father to be able to sit as she and her parents, Otto and Polly Redanz wait in line to participate in early voting at the polling place in the St. Charles Borromeo Center in Niagara Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
First time voter
JuYi Banchich, an immigrant from Taiwan who became a U.S. citizen last year, is eager to vote in her first U.S. presidential election as she stands in line outside the early voting polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Not undecided
Charles Killian of the Town of Tonawanda wears "make America great again" clothing as he is among voters lined up to participate in early voting outside the polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Doors open
To the applause of voters waiting in a line around the block, an election worker unlocks the front doors to the early voting polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building at noon on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Reflecting voters
Voters line up to participate in early voting are reflected in a puddle outside the polling place in the St. Charles Borromeo Center in Niagara Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Gatekeepers
Elections inspectors at the door signal for the next in line to enter the polling place at the entrance to the St. Charles Borromeo Center in Niagara Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Lining up
Voters line up to participate in early voting at the polling place in the St. Charles Borromeo Center in Niagara Falls, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Down the street
Voters line up on Delaware Avenue to participate in early voting outside the polling place in the Kenmore Municipal Building, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Worth the wait
Voters wait in line to participate in early voting at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Voting this way
Voters wait in line to participate in early voting at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Signing in
Gloria Simpson signs in for her ballot at the early voting polling place in the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Ballot cast
Courtney Murphy of Buffalo places her ballot into the voting machine at the early voting polling place in the Gloria J. Parks Community Center in Buffalo, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
Watch now: Dozens wait in line to vote at Amherst Senior Services Center
Polls are open everywhere in New York State from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here's what you need to know for Election Day this year.Â
A total of 21,142 votes were recorded Tuesday, bringing the count to 70,017 since early voting began Saturday.
Voter enthusiasm, concerns about how well mail-in voting will work this year and social-distancing rules led to peak waits of an hour or more – but voters interviewed generally said they didn’t mind.
Early voting in New York State began Saturday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. Â
