Mahaska County set a record this year for the number of early votes cast---- 6,011 voted via absentee ballot. CRI's Maureen McKamey went to the polls to see if people were still showing up to vote on election day.

Poll workers at some of the precincts in Oskaloosa were surprised at the turnout they had already seen about midway through the day.

"We've had it fairly steady considering we had a good absentee ballot turnout," says Poll Worker Joan Benscoter.

"Because there are already 6000 ballots that are already in," says Poll Worker Margaret Mattix.

Mahaska County has set a record this year for the number of absentee ballots cast---but plenty of people decided to wait until election day. Misty Saner stopped by during a quieter time at the polls. She said she was glad she didn't have to wait in a long line.

"I voted in Lucas county last year and it was very large there---I figured there would be more people than this," says voter Misty Saner.

But whether people filled out their ballots early or waited until today, they agreed on the importance of voting.

"I want to have a say in what happens in this country because if you don't vote you don't have a say," says Saner.

10,848 people voted in Mahaska County, out of the almost 16,000 voters registered at the beginning of November. Poll workers also told us that a lot of people were taking advantage of Iowa's same-day registration option---registering right before they cast their ballots.