Aaron has more turnout news below - share your stories in the comments.
At her precinct in Coon Rapids, my Mom was voter number 916 at 11:15 this morning. In 2006, there were 1800 registered voters in her precinct. Wow. Question to our readers, would that 915 number include those that voted absentee (like my Dad)? I suspect the answer is that it would not, which makes turnout even more impressive.
Absentees are normally delivered in the afternoon, reviewed, then ran through the machines. So, yes, that is a good number for the time.
Dem Dave is right. In fact, in some precincts, the absentees are not run until the regular balloting is done.
Absentees are not officially counted until the polls close and the counting begin.
Same thing at my little precinct in Coon Rapids. By 11:00am, 50% of the registered voters had voted.