BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Election Day is a week from Tuesday, but you do not have to wait that long to have your voice heard.
Saturday marked the first day of early voting here in New York.
The Erie County Board of Elections says 4,157 people have cast their ballot so far.
There are nine days to take advantage of early voting with nearly 40 polling places to choose from here in Erie County.
A community party was held in Buffalo to help kick off the election, and they did it with a Halloween theme. Souls to the Polls took place Saturday at the Delavan Grider Community Center on East Delavan Avenue.
The event is a celebration of our right to vote. The day's activities included food, games, and live entertainment.
"It's a deep-rooted tradition to engage voting with black and brown people in America. It started in the Reconstruction Era and we're still going strong," said Voice Buffalo Executive Director John Sullivan. "It's a great way to motivate our people and remind them of the power they have with a vote."
Souls to the Polls is a faith-based movement dedicated to uniting faith leaders and their congregations in order to strengthen the voting power of everyone in the community.
Early voting locations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, and noon to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Early voting ends next Sunday ahead of the general election on Tuesday, November 7.
