Secretary of State Connie Lawson says she has visited 78 counties and that county clerks across Indiana are ready for Election Day.

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She says at least 165,000 people statewide have either voted early or applied for absentee ballots. Lawson says early and absentee ballots are now running ahead of the 2008 election at this time. She says activity at county clerk offices picked up as the voter registration deadline approached.

Lawson says Hoosiers are accustomed to voting early these days which may be one of the reasons why early voting appears to be up.  Lawson says back in 2008, statewide voter turnout was 61-percent. She says they're watching to see if voter turnout in the current election tops that figure.