Advance voting for the Nov. 5 general election begins today, and early indications are that it could be a record-setting year for the early-bird practice in Douglas County.

More than 2,500 advance voting ballots will be mailed to voters today alone, county clerk Patty Jaimes said Tuesday. That’s already more than the 2,400 ballots cast in advance four years ago, the last time county residents voted in a gubernatorial election.

“This is probably a record year for ballots to be mailed because of the people going out door-to-door,” Jaimes said.

As Election Day draws near, field workers for the Democratic Party have been canvassing neighborhoods with clipboards and paperwork, helping people register to vote and apply for advance voting ballots by mail from the comfort of their own homes. Area residents also have begun receiving recorded phone messages from President Bush, urging them to vote Republican.

Voters can request advance voting ballots by mail until the first of next month, but Jaimes recommended they do it earlier to allow time for completed ballots to make it back to the election office by the 5 p.m. Nov. 5 deadline. Call 832-5147 or 832-5267 to request a ballot.

Starting today, registered voters can advance vote in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office of the county election officer in the Douglas County Courthouse, 11th and Massachusetts streets. That option will be available until noon Nov. 4.