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People in Ohio and Kentucky already have started casting ballots in this year's general election, and West Virginia voters get their chance this week.

Early or absentee voting began Oct. 6 in Ohio and Kentucky, and many people have taken advantage of it. Early voting doesn't begin in West Virginia until Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Election officials already have noticed a larger-than-usual number of early voters and are expecting that trend to continue. More people are becoming aware of the convenience, for one thing, but this year's election campaign has brought an increase in voter registrations across the board, they say.

June Freeman of South Point, Ohio, said she voted early Friday at the Lawrence County Courthouse to avoid long lines on Election Day, which is Nov. 4. Voting early, Freeman said, is a precaution to ensure she has enough time to vote.

"I don't like to wait until the last minute because something might come up on Election Day that'll make it more difficult for me to get to the polls," Freeman said. "It's very convenient."

Carol and Richard Polachek of Haverhill, Ohio, said they decided to vote Friday because they were already in Ironton picking up campaign materials. Since they take care of their grandson during the day, the Polacheks said early voting allows them to vote anytime they can before the election.

"It's easier to come down here and vote when we have the time," Richard Polachek said.

Catherine Overbeck, director of the Lawrence County Board of Elections in Ohio, said during the first week of absentee, or early, voting, her office received more absentee applications and in-office absentee voters than in previous years.

"We've had a steady stream of absentee voters," Overbeck said. "A lot of people come in and vote during their lunch breaks."

Sept. 30 marked the first day people in Ohio could vote early using an absentee ballot. Ohio voters do not have to provide a reason for voting early or by absentee ballot. In Ohio, early and absentee voting are the same thing.

According to registration numbers provided by the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, registration rolls grew by 665,949 voters in 2008 -- an increase of nearly 8.9 percent.

The number of active voters takes into account new registrations, changes in registration and voters removed from the rolls under Ohio and federal law, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Lawrence County had 45,269 active voters by the registration deadline -- or 2,367 more active voters since Jan. 1. That's an increase of about 5.5 percent.

Aside from convenience, Overbeck attributes the increase in absentee voting to a number of factors, including the historic presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, the importance of Ohio's electoral votes and the national media attention on Ohio. Both Obama, McCain and their running mates have made numerous campaign visits to the state.

In West Virginia, Cabell County Clerk Karen Cole said any registered voter can participate during the early voting period that begins on Wednesday. Most people tend to vote early because of the convenience, she said.

"Everybody's very busy and their schedules are hectic," Cole said. "You used to only have a few a hours on a certain day to vote.

"But now they're able to choose when they want to vote. Early voting doesn't constrain people to just one day," she added.

According to registration numbers provided by the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office, 1,199,750 voters were registered as of Oct. 6 -- an increase of more than 31,000 voters from the last presidential election. That's an increase of about 2.6 percent.

Sarah Bailey, West Virginia's deputy secretary of state, said there is a clear difference between absentee and early voting. When voting absentee, voters must have a specific reason that forces them to be unable to vote on Election Day. Reasons include being medically confined to their house and being out of the area on business or while serving in the military.

In West Virginia, voters can only vote absentee by mail or by e-mail. Voter registration ends Tuesday. The deadline for submitting absentee requests is Oct. 29.

In Kentucky, an absentee ballot can only be used when a voter cannot be in town on Election Day to cast a ballot in person. Voters must sign affidavits and take oaths indicating that their only reason for filling out an absentee ballot is because they will not be in town. The absentee ballot can be mailed in or can be completed at the courthouse, so long as the affidavit and oath requirements are met.

Boyd County Clerk Debbie Jones said her office so far has seen a "tremendous" number of people voting absentee. Since Oct. 6, Jones said she's sent out about 480 ballots by mail and had another 200 ballots cast on the machines in the courthouse.

By Election Day, Jones expected between 1,700 and 1,800 people to vote absentee -- more than double the amount during a non-presidential election.

Voter registration is also up in Boyd County. Jones said she expects to have about 800 registration cards to process -- triple the total in previous elections -- when her staff is finished tabulating the results. Registration was closed in Kentucky on Oct. 6.

Les Fugate, deputy assistant Kentucky Secretary of State, said he will be unable to provide statewide voter registration numbers until Oct. 15.

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Chris Harris / The Herald-Dispatch

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