P-J file photo by Jordan W. Patterson

From Oct. 26 through Sunday, 3,827 ballots were cast as part of early voting in Chautauqua County, election commissioners Brian Abram and Norm Green said.

The number of participants, which also includes absentee ballots cast, represents about 5% of the 76,762 registered voters in the county.

“With nearly 5% of all active voters casting ballots early in the county, only Ulster and Columbia counties had an higher percentage of voter participation,” the county Board of Elections said in a news release. “Chautauqua County narrowly edged out neighboring Erie County in early voter participation and doubled the voter turnout percentage of neighboring Cattaraugus County.”

Abram and Green attributed the turnout to the mayoral races in Jamestown, Dunkirk and Fredonia, and town supervisor races in Pomfret and Busti. The special election for the open state Senate seat was also likely a contributing factor to the number of early voters, the pair said.

The Board of Elections is predicting that 25,000 county residents will vote in this year’s general election. By comparison, in the 2015 election, 19,949 votes were cast.

On Election Day, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“The busiest times to avoid will be noon to 1 p.m. and in the evening during the dinner hour,” the Board of Elections said. “All county polls sites will be open. Voters who have not moved will vote at the same site as last year except that West Ellicott and Celoron voters are now voting at the Resource Center, rear entrance, 200 Dunham Ave., Celoron.”

Those who took part in early voting are not permitted to vote on Election Day.

This year represented the first time early voting was held in New York. Across the state, there were 248 early voting locations, including three in Chautauqua County.

“I think it is more than fair to say Early Voting, by and large, went very smoothly,” said Robert Brehm, co-executive director of the state Board of Election. “More than 256,000 people voted, and the voters seemed to like the convenience of not having to vote on just the one day. Waiting times were short or non-existent in most places. Even in the few places where there were minor hiccups, voters were overwhelmingly favorable.”

“Statewide turnout, unofficially, is approximately 1.9% over the nine days,” said Todd Valentine, the agency’s other co-executive director. “With nothing to compare it to, we don’t know yet if that is high or low. After the election we will get together with our local commissioners, vendors and other stakeholders and review everything. We’ll look at what worked well, what didn’t work so well, what adjustments need to be made to improve the experience and what if any recommendations we may want to make to state lawmakers.”