The Secretary of State's office announced this evening that preliminary reports indicate about 31,000 absentee ballots have been cast in today's primary election, further surpassing the previous state record of 25,000.

The exact preliminary total: 30,841.

Election officials also said 1,080 absentee ballots have already been rejected.

That's at a rate of 3.38% domestic (about on par with 2008) and .05% military/overseas (down from 2.02% in 2008).

The stats are unofficial, of course, and are subject to change as the night goes on.