Nearly 7,000 votes cast during first weekend of early voting

Election officials in Erie County say more than 7,000 voters cast their ballot during the first weekend of early voting.

According to the Erie County Board of Elections, 4,253 ballots were cast in the first day of early voting on Saturday and more than 2,800 voters came out to vote on Sunday.

On Saturday, 1,000 hundred votes, along with another 1,700 on Saturday, were cast in the city of Buffalo, which does have a mayoral race on the ballot.

Running in that race is Democrat Sean Ryan, Republican James Gardner, and independent candidate Michael Gainer.

It is the first open mayoral election in the city in more than 20 years.

Early voting continues Monday across Western New York and ends Sunday, Nov. 2.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.