More than 1.7 million Hoosiers have cast their ballots early this election -- that's nearly double the number who voted early in 2016.

The Marion County Election Board voted unanimously to open Lucas Oil Stadium for early voting this weekend.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail hired the professional musicians to play on Lugar Plaza for early voters waiting in line at the City-County Building.

In response to people waiting up to eight hours to cast a ballot at early voting sites in Marion County the clerks office is extending voting hours at the City-County Building.

The Indiana secretary of states office, which oversees state election policy, said 559,749 absentee by-mail ballots were requested across the state as of Friday, and 530,854 voters have voted at an early voting location. Thursday was the deadline for requesting a ballot.

Indiana's early voting turnout this year is well ahead of the last two midterm elections.

This was the first time in 10 years that Marion County used satellite voting sites. Nearly 8,000 people came out to vote Sunday alone -- the largest single day total for in-person early voting ever in Marion County.

The five new sites are the result of a settled lawsuit filed against the county's election board.

Data from the Secretary of State's office show that as of Thursday, more than 292,000 Hoosiers had either voted at early voting centers or through mail-in ballots.

Attorney General Curtis Hill's motion to withdraw a settlement agreement to create early voting centers was met with criticism from Secretary of State Connie Lawson, who called Hill's filing "reckless."