BUFFALO, N.Y. — Many polling places in Erie County had lines on Tuesday morning when the polls opened at 6 a.m.
Hutch Tech in Buffalo is just one of the many polling places in Erie County. Polls are open until 9 p.m. across the state on Election Day.
As 2 On Your Side talked to voters on Tuesday, we got a sense of why this election is so important to people. They're passionate about the issues they believe in.
At the Clearfield Community Center, people from Amherst and Williamsville were showing up in strong numbers Tuesday afternoon. We met two younger voters who talked about why they think it's important for everyone to vote, including people in their generation.
"I think as citizens and especially, like, young voters, I think it's important for us to go out and vote for local, state, and federal representatives because it's important for our values to be represented in our government," said Aaron Dillon.
"Get off your couch, and there are really short pamphlets available either online or on social media. Find out something that matters to you and try to find the people who can represent you to vote for," said Julia Quebral.
One of the voters we met is Seth Geller from Williamsville. He is living with ALS and told us why he came out to vote.
"It was very, very important to me. I could be the one vote, and I just want everything to be better for everybody and my wife is going to survive me, so we've been together, it will be 49 years in April of '25, and I wanted to leave a better world for her," said Seth Geller.
When we asked Geller what he would say to someone who isn't sure if they're voting yet, he said just look at him. They live five minutes away and it took them an hour-and-a-half to get him out of the house, but he did it because voting is that important to him.
Remember, there are two yes or no questions on the ballot this year if you live in Erie County. One is a statewide ballot proposal, the other is a proposal to change the Erie County Charter.