After Sean Ryan’s swearing‑in as Buffalo’s new mayor, voters will soon decide who fills his former State Senate seat.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A special election in Western New York gets underway Saturday.

Early voting for the 61st State Senate District race begins Saturday and runs through Sunday, Feb. 1. The race features Republican candidate Dan Gagliardo and Democratic nominee Jeremy Zellner.

The winner of the special election will replace Sean Ryan, who was sworn in as the City of Buffalo’s new mayor on New Year’s Day.

Erie County Board of Elections commissioners Ralph Mohr and Howard Johnson Jr. said 15 early voting locations will be open throughout the district, including sites in the towns of Amherst, Grand Island, and Tonawanda, as well as the cities of Tonawanda and Buffalo. These communities make up the 61st Senate District.

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Early voting hours will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Voters may use any of the early voting locations. A complete list of sites is available at elections.erie.gov.

On Election Day — in this case, Tuesday, Feb. 3 — voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling locations. Only poll sites within the 61st Senate District will be open, and voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Participation in the special election is limited to eligible voters who reside within the 61st Senate District.

Voters seeking to confirm their eligibility, find their assigned polling place, or view a sample ballot can visit elections.erie.gov/VSearch2 or contact the Erie County Board of Elections at 716-858-8891.