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The Latest: Early voting sets new record in New Mexico

New Mexico voters have cast more ballots before election day than ever before.

The New Mexico Secretary of State's Office said Monday that more than 534,000 residents have voted at early voting centers or by absentee ballot.

The numbers were reported by county clerks from across the state after early voting ended Saturday.

The previous record for early voting in New Mexico was set in the 2008 general election when nearly 520,000 ballots were cast before election day.

Registered Democrats accounted for 49 percent of early votes and Republicans for 36 percent. Absentee ballots continue to be counted ahead the submission deadline on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The record for overall turnout in New Mexico was set in 2008 with 833,365 votes cast.

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New Mexico voters are bracing for an uncertain political future amid last-minute overtures from presidential candidates and aggressive local campaigning to decide the balance of power in the state Legislature.

Monday provided an interlude between election day and several weeks of balloting at early voting centers and county clerk offices.

Donald Trump, running mate Mike Pence and Donald Trump Jr. have visited New Mexico in quick succession amid a spree of ad buys on local network television by the Republican ticket and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump insists he is in close competition for the state's five electoral votes in a state that sided heavily with Barack Obama. Democrats hold the advantage in terms of voter registration, while Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is undermining easy predictions in his home state.

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