ANDERSON — The numbers of registered voters and of people voting absentee are breaking records across South Carolina, according to election officials.

“Approximately 2.5 million (2.552 million) voters are eligible to vote in the 2008 General Election, a record high in South Carolina,” the State Election Commission said through a news release. “The number of registered voters in South Carolina has increased by 310,000 since January 1. Also, more than 218,000 absentee ballots have been issued throughout the state, far surpassing the previous record of 169,000 absentee ballots issued before the 2004 general election.”

In Anderson County, absentee ballot requests are breaking records as well, said Katy Smith, Anderson County registration and elections director.

“We have had 7,617 requests from voters wanting to vote absentee,” Smith said. “The most common reason (for needing an absentee ballot) being marked by voters is ‘person on vacation who will be outside their county of residence on Election Day.’ And close second is ‘for reasons of employment will not be able to vote on Election Day.’”

As of Oct. 15, there were 200,018 registered voters in Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties, according to information released by the State Election Commission. According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties was estimated to be more than 362,000. That means roughly 55 percent of the area is registered to vote.

Officials say there is still time to cast an absentee ballot in South Carolina.

Absentee ballot applications can be provided at voter registration offices in person or requested by mail.

South Carolina voters can apply for an absentee ballot by mail until 5 p.m., Oct. 31. Once the application is approved, the absentee ballot is mailed to the voter, who has until 7 p.m. Nov. 4 to mail the absentee ballot back or until 5 p.m. Nov. 3 to turn the ballot in to a voter registration office in person.

The Anderson County Registration and Elections office is behind the historic county courthouse in the green and white building, at 107 S. Main St., Suite 101, Anderson.

Since 2000, voter registration in South Carolina has increased from 2.266 million. In that general election, 63 percent of those registered voted.

In 2004, the number of registered voters had increased to 2.3 million, and 70 percent of those registered participated in the election.

Officials predict this year’s general election participation rate in South Carolina could top 80 percent of registered voters.

Roughly 1.4 million Georgians already have cast ballots, and blacks are voting in disproportionate numbers. Black voters overwhelmingly support Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is bidding to become the nation’s first black president.

National trends show that Democrats are ahead in early voting in six key states that President Bush won four years ago, forcing Republican candidate Sen. John McCain to play catch-up even before Election Day arrives.

Democrats outnumber Republicans among early voters in Iowa, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, according to statistics from election and party officials in those states. Bush won all six in 2004, and McCain needs to win most of them to claim the White House this year.

About a third of voters nationwide are expected to vote early this year, up from 22 percent in the last presidential election. More than 15 million voters have already cast ballots, according to statistics compiled by Michael P. McDonald, a political scientist at George Mason University.

“This is off the charts in some of these states,” McDonald said. “They already have record turnout (among early voters) in some states.”

Absentee voting used to be reserved mainly for people unable to make it to the polls on Election Day, whether they were sick, away on business or serving in the military. This year, more than 30 states allow any registered voter to cast an early ballot, some in person and others by mail.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.