OBSERVER Photo by Christopher Blakeslee The Chautauqua Mall, 318 E. Fairmount Ave., is one of four early voting sites located across Chautauqua County.

Early voters are turning out in droves to cast their ballots in Chautauqua County, according to election officials.

“More than 8,800 ballots have been cast as of Wednesday morning,” said Brian Abram, county Republican election commissioner. “This is double what we had during the 2020 election.”

Currently, there are four different early voting sites across the county to include at the Carlson Community Center, 50 W. Lake Road., Mayville; the Robert H. Jackson Center (Prendergast Avenue Entrance) E. Fourth St.; Chautauqua Mall (Main Entrance) 318 E. Fairmount Ave. and the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds (4-H Building Ag and Expo Center) at 1089 Central Ave., Dunkirk. The voting sites are open from 10 to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Abram said he expects a higher-than-normal turnout for this year’s election and estimates that based on the early voting numbers being reported, that across the county, more than 60,000 people will vote.

“This is pure speculation, but I think we will have more than 60,000 votes this year,” he said. “This is a polarizing election year, and people are voting. We have sufficient supplies like ink for the printers, and drums. However, if people want to vote early and try to avoid the crowds on Election Day it’s their choice.”

Reports from throughout the state echo what is being seen in Chautauqua County. Monroe County has seen more than 30,000 during the first two days of early voting while Kathleen McGrath, state Board of Elections public information director , said Monday that turnout for the first four days of early voting was more than 1.38 million people, according to rochesterfirst.com.