More than 1 million Hoosiers already have cast their ballot in this year's general election.
Secretary of State Diego Morales said Indiana surpassed the numerical milestone Thursday counting both in-person early votes and returned mail-in absentee ballots.
"As of today, over a million eligible Hoosiers have already taken advantage of early voting options, demonstrating our state's dedication to the principles of civic engagement and active involvement," Morales said.
"I am proud to see so many Hoosiers getting out to the polls and voting. I encourage every eligible voter who has not yet cast their ballot to make a plan and head to the polls."
This year's early vote count, with several days of early voting still to go, already exceeds 2016 when a total of 934,403 Hoosiers, or 33% of the state's participating electorate, voted early or by mail.
Though 2020 is likely to retain its title for the election with most early votes at more than 1.8 million, or 61% of the total votes cast, due to the large number of Hoosier voters opting for an early or mail-in vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Lake County, data show 67,150 in-person early ballots were completed through Wednesday and 8,834 mail-in absentee ballots already have been returned for a total of 75,984.
That compares to 105,878 early and mail-in Lake County votes during the same period in 2020, and 39,671 early and mail-in votes at this point in 2016.
Early voting is available Friday, Saturday and for a half-day Monday at 11 locations in Lake County, seven sites in Porter County, and four LaPorte County polling places.
The last day to vote in this year's general election is Tuesday, Election Day, when polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All mail-in absentee ballots also must be received by the voter's county elections office before the polls close Tuesday to be included in the final results.