The polls opened at 7 this morning and the flow of people never stopped.

"It started right at 7," said election worker Betty Jo Douglas. "We had people waiting at the door to come in."

This year's gubernatorial election is expected to bring at nearly seven percent more voters than in 2002. Four years ago, 48 percent of registered voters cast a ballot while 55 percent are expected this year.

"I had anticipated because of the increased registrations this year that the percentage would go up to perhaps 52 or 53 percent," said county clerk Mike Bryanton. "But it looks like we're probably going to exceed that."

Bryanton said a higher turnout historically favors the democrats. In one Lansing precinct with about 16 hundred registered voters, only about 300 people usually cast a ballot. More than double that amount could vote this year.