The first week or so of early voting in Marion County saw an increase of 25 percent over the same period of 2012 and a 40 percent increase over 2008.

In the first eight days—Oct. 12 to Oct. 19—more than 7,300 people voted at the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis, according to the Marion County Clerk's Office.

That compares to the about 5,400 people in 2012 who voted in the first eight days of the early-voting period, and about 4,400 who did so during that time frame in 2008.

An average of 912 people are voting each day this year, and the flow of traffic has remained steady over the week.

The county had 56 percent voter turnout in the 2012 general election, along with 59,036 absentee voters. Early voters are considered absentee voters.

In the 2008 general election, the county had 55 percent turnout, and a record of 93,316 absentee voters.

Early voting, which continues through Nov. 7, is available every day downtown in room W122 of the City-County Building at 200 E. Washington St. The Marion County Clerk’s Office is offering free parking to voters.

The office will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Next week, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The full list of hours is available here.

The Marion County Clerk’s Office is reminding voters to bring a valid photo ID issued by the state or federal government when they come to vote.