COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina election officials say a record-setting 2.5 million residents have registered to vote and that a record has been set for absentee ballots issued.

The state Election Commission said Tuesday registration is up by 310,000 since the beginning of the year.

The commission also says it has issued 218,000 absentee ballots and that has shattered the record 169,000 issued in the 2004 general election.

Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire says 161,983 absentee votes have been cast and that bests 2004 total of 161,000.

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