After a delay due to COVID-19, early voting for the June 23 primary in New York — and a local special election — begins Saturday.

But despite the pandemic, Monroe County’s Republican Election Commissioner Lisa Nicolay wants to assure the public the usual voting process hasn’t changed much.

“You know, there were adjustments, and we just finalized a lot of things recently because of that," Nicolay said. "We were still trying to juggle locations and people, but we are ready. We’re ready, ready for Saturday.”

She warns every registered voter in Monroe County to double-check their usual polling location, as some have had to change with many schools and churches closed right now. They can be found at the Monroe County's website.

But with early voting, voters can choose any polling location as long as they’re registered.

“Just like you are when you go to the grocery store, follow the rules when you go to a polling place," she said. "Be patient, we’re doing our best to make sure everyone stays safe and gets their opportunity to vote.”

In line, voters will be placed six feet apart. Volunteers will wear masks, and booths will be sanitized between voters. But with early voting and a variety of locations available, she doesn’t anticipate long wait times to vote.

“It might take three or four minutes longer than it typically does, it might," Nicolay said. "But we would like people to be patient.”

But if you still feel uncomfortable coming to physically vote, Nicolay says you can apply for an absentee ballot. Already the Monroe County Board has had more than five times what it had for primaries in 2016 — and this year it’s just one party.

“I think it might be more people are going to vote via absentee and less come to the polls, or who knows, maybe they’ll both be up? But I don’t see it being downplayed at all,” she said.

Though Nicolay encourages everyone to vote no matter what. Depending on where you live in Monroe County, you could be voting on three ballots due to a special election in District 27. And of course, it’s a presidential year.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we really hope everyone gets an opportunity to vote," she said. "It’s important."