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There is still two and a half weeks left before the midterm election, but more Iowans are choosing to vote early this year than have in recent history. According to Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro as of Thursday more Iowans have requested an absentee ballot for the election this fall than voted early in 2002 and 2006 general elections. As of October 8th 3,102 absentee ballots have been requested in Marion County including 1,596 Republican, 1,084 Democratic and 421 no party. Though more Republican ballots have been requested, more Democratic ballots have been returned to the Marion County Auditor’s office. Of the 952 returned ballots 461 of them are Democratic, 357 Republican and 133 no party.