DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro says the number of absentee votes submitted in 2008 has shattered the previous record from 2004.

Mauro’s office announced on Saturday that, as of the close of business on Nov. 1, more than 481,000 ballots had been received by county auditor offices across the state.

That tops the previous record by about 20,000 votes. Mauro says voter registration has also set a record with well over two million voters on the rolls.