With less than three weeks until the November 4th election, Kansas officials are expecting a record turnout at the polls judging by the number of advance ballots hitting the mail Wednesday night.

Four years ago, in the last presidential election, only 19,000 voted by advance ballot in Sedgwick County. Two years ago, more than 24,000 mailed in their ballots.

Wednesday night, 61,500 advance voting ballots are being mailed, representing a major increase and a record for the upcoming election.

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Bill Gale says the record number of advance mail ballots is the result of years of encouraging voters to think of the alternative ways to vote besides going to the polls on election day.

"Things have changed. It's not as much an election day. One single day.
It's now an election season," Gale said.

Advance ballots also help spread the workload of election employees. Gale says it's a lot of work to get these ballots out to homes in the county.

Advance voting could also mean taxpayers not having to buy as many voting machines, which cost about $3,000 each.

While advance mail-in ballots have already begun, Sedgwick County's advance voting in-person begins next week on October 22nd at the Sedgwick County Election Office.