SOUTH BEND — It's the final sprint toward a historic Election Day. Voter registration is over, and hundreds have already voted early.

By 5 p.m. Monday, more than 500 people had voted absentee in just one location in St. Joseph County. The lines formed early — before the doors opened at 8 a.m. Monday, approximately 50 people didn't want to wait until Election Day to cast their vote.

County officials project that November 4th could set a record for voter turnout.

“Have y'all registered to vote?” asked Billy Gene Easton. Outside the County City Building Monday, as the clock ticked toward the deadline to register, Easton was on a mission to make your vote count

It is clear that this Election Day will be big. Indiana is considered a battleground state in the race for president and polls show the race for governor is equally close.

Some who haven't voted in years say they will next month.

“Right now there's a lot of stuff going on with the economy and things like that that's affecting everybody. Not just us, not just my kids — everybody,” said Neil Singleton of Elkhart.

As of late last week, more than 4.4 million people were registered to vote in Indiana — nearly 70 percent of the state's 6.3 million residents. The last record for a presidential election was 4.2 million in 2004.

As some voters registered outside, inside the County City building other voters were casting their ballots.

County Clerk Rita Glenn said that Monday was the first day to vote in person. A line was present at 8 a.m. Monday, according to election workers, for absentee voting.

Glenn added, “There was no testing the water this time. We're jumping in with both feet “

Voter registration has closed. However, absentee voting continues until Nov. 3.

In St. Joseph County, absentee voting locations have extended hours to accommodate the larger crowd this election.

The County City Building downtown South Bend and the Government Building in downtown Mishawaka will be open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 they will be open from noon - 4 p.m.

In Indiana, you can vote in-person absentee until noon on November 3.
Mail-in absentee ballots must arrive in the county offices by October 27.

In Michigan, there is no early, in-person voting. Michigan voters have until 8 p.m. on election night to complete the absentee ballot and return it to the clerk's office.

Monday was your last chance to register in both states.

For more election headlines and voter resources, go to WSBT.com's Campaign ‘08 section.