Early voting has increased 40% in Wisconsin since 2020, officials say

Early voting in the state of Wisconsin has increased 40% since 2020, local officials say. 

Early in-person voting started on Tuesday and the Wisconsin Elections Commission said Friday that 292,702 people have already voted, compared to 209,665 in the comparable time period in 2020.

A total of 921,832 absentee ballots have been requested and 715,395 have already been returned, according to ABC News.

Almost two million absentee ballots were cast during the 2020 election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Early in-person absentee voting will continue until Nov. 3. Absentee ballots have to be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 to be able to be counted. 

Republicans have been encouraging early voting this election cycle.