BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Board of Elections heard from the public Tuesday after a federal judge allowed Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's name to appear on the general election ballot as an independent.

Dozens of people came out to share their thoughts. All but one person who spoke said they are demanding the Board of Elections appeal the decision to let Brown have an independent line on the ballot.

Those in favor of appealing said their reasoning was that federal Judge John Sinatra, who heard the case, has a brother who is a large donor to Brown's campaigns.

They also said he turned in his petitions to run as an independent after state deadlines and after his loss to India Walton.

One man who spoke said he wants to see both candidates on the ballot so they can prove themselves.

Board of Elections commissioners voted one 'yes' and one 'no' to appeal a similar state ruling — which makes it a no — but they did vote to appeal the federal ruling.

"I think that the case made by the attorneys for the Board of Elections was much stronger than the case made by the attorneys for Byron Brown in the federal case,” said Nathan Feist, city of Buffalo. “And then stronger than the attorney for Byron Brown supporters in the state case."

"This is the tightrope walk of democracy,” said Stephanie Adams, city of Buffalo resident. “It was very clear they were working to give the public the impression that they weren't going to do anything that could be interpreted as favoring any particular candidate and that they were the guardians of the process."

The case will now be headed to court.

According to Erie County Board of Elections commissioners, they will hold off on the printing and mailing of ballots until the decision is final.