Final day of early voting in New York State

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) - While Election Day is only two days away, Sunday was the last day that New Yorkers could cast their vote early. All other voters will have to vote on November 5. According to those at the Saratoga County Board of Elections, more voters showed up to the polls early, prompting the county to open the polling sites an hour early on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Joseph J. Suhrada, Republican Commissioner at Saratoga County Board of Elections, said that the county did not anticipate this many people to vote before election day this year.

"We are already over 10,000 more [voters] than we had all of last election in 2020, in the last presidential, so we have at least 10,000 voters; we will probably get 15,000," Suhrada said. "So it's quite a difference from 2020."

Suhrada also said there are other differences that separate this election from years prior.

"There are more people adopting the concept of early voting, and adapting to it," Suhrada said. "Actually participating in it, in a way they wouldn't do in 2020. I think what we're seeing actually is that the Republicans are coming out more than the Democrats here in Saratoga County. In 2020, it was overwhelming Democrats."

For this election cycle, the county held five early voting locations nine days before the election.  Suhrada says the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library polling site saw the most early voters.

"Just the population density of Clifton Park and Halfmoon, and southern Saratoga County, hasalways been higher than the rest of the county."

In the county, 55,000 voters have casted before election night. Some voters, like Myra Vandenberg, came to the polls at the library early out of convenience.

"It's the most convenient location; I know where it is, easy, it's right near everything I need to do today," Vandenberg said. "There is like a push to get things done during the day; I have kids at home that are waiting for me to cook for them."

Those at the board of elections want early voters to know early votes are just the same as those cast on election night.

"It's definitely just as secure," Suhrada said. "That is the key that I have had to explain to folks- that there is no hanky panky or hidden paper ballots. What happens is, we count these votes on election night just like the other votes."

It is estimated that another 80,000 to 90,000 people will vote on election day across the 84 polling sites in Saratoga County.