Madison saw a significant increase in voting numbers compared to previous years on the first day of early voting. 

City Municipal Clerk Elena Berg said 1,198 ballots – numbers that include both absentee ballots and in-person voting – were cast at the city clerk’s office Monday.

Wisconsin’s Obama for America spokesperson Joe Zepecki said Madison’s early voting is up 136 percent from 2008’s presidential election. 

During the last presidential election, the office averaged around 1,000 votes a day, according to Berg. Toward the very end of early voting, the office capped out at 1,300 votes in one day, she added.

Berg noted absentee voting appears to be up during this year’s election. 

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said early voting has been very popular for many years, possibly as a result of the state lifting a requirement that there be a reason for early or absentee voting a few years ago.

He said this is the third presidential election where early voting has been allowed.

Verveer said Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature cut early voting back last year by passing a law that reduced when the action is allowed. Previously, early voting began as soon as ballots were delivered from the printer, but it is now limited to two weeks before election.

“We didn’t know exactly what to expect since we had three weeks last election and we’re down to two weeks this year,” Berg said about the time period change.

Early voting will continue until the Friday before Election Day on Nov. 2.

According to the Associated Press, about 20 percent of ballots were cast early in 2008’s presidential election.

Verveer said many people wanted to vote as early as possible, translating into lines across the city as Madisonians lined up at their voting locations.

“The longest wait time to vote was 15 minutes,” Verveer said. “This is a very good sign. People are interested in voting.”

Verveer noted early voting is not permitted in all states. 

He added with students’ busy schedules, it is hard to budget time on Election Day, so early voting is a great opportunity. 

“There is not an excuse to not vote anymore,” he said.

Zepecki also stressed the efficiency and importance of voting early, urging citizens to take advantage of the opportunity. 

“We want to encourage all eligible citizens, whether that is students or seniors, to consider voting early,” he said. 

Madison’s clerk office is open everyday this week and next week, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to facilitate individuals’ voting needs.