The number of people voting early in Vermont could hit a record this year, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Approximately 100,381 people requested early ballots as of 5 p.m. Monday, the deadline for requesting early ballots.
By 4 p.m. Tuesday, three hours before the polls closed and early ballots needed to be returned, 93,028 people had returned their absentee ballots.
The previous record for early ballots was set in 2008, when 94,664 people voted early, according to Secretary of State Jim Condos.
“It’s very close,” Condos said. “I think it’s pretty likely that we’ll set a record for early ballots.”
A record number of people have already registered to vote in the general election. The previous registration record was 461,960 in 2012, Condos said. This year, 470,799 people registered, he said.
Vermont may also break the record for turnout for an election, Condos said. He said voter turnout is typically between 65 percent and 72 percent of registered voters.
The previous record was 326,822 in 2008, so if 72 percent of registered voters cast a ballot, turnout would be 338,975, and that would be a new record, Condos said.
“Things are looking up,” Condos said. “It’s always a good thing when people go out and vote, and if I had my druthers, I’d love to see it at 100 percent.”
Condos said the secretary of state’s office would likely not have official numbers on how many people vote in the 2016 election until later in the week. But he said all signs point to high turnout.
“Anecdotally, I can tell you that we’ve heard reports all around the state that voter turnout has been strong,” Condos said. He said lines have been reported in Burlington and Colchester, and one town in southern Vermont had 50 percent of registered voters cast a ballot by noon.
“Voting I think is definitely strong,” he said. “How strong? We’ll find out.”
