(WGHP) -- Lines of people who just got off work were wrapped around the Clemmons Branch Library Friday afternoon. According to the Forsyth County Board of Elections, a little over 13,000 people voted early on Thursday with more than 1,200 of them casting a ballot inside the library. Many voters who showed up on Friday hope the trend continues. "I knew this was going to be a serious election, and I wanted to get here early before the real crowds get here," Michael Pfingst said. "My ancestors fought for us to be able to vote, and I just want to make sure it's counted," Sheryl Stovall said. "This is probably the most important election I've witnessed in my lifetime. I'm 40 years old. It just feels more important this time," Joshua Robinson said. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, voters on Thursday set a first-day early voting record with more than 353,000 ballots, which tops the previous record of more than 348,000 set in 2020. What is influencing voters to jump in line? Wake Forest Political Science Professor Nate French says both Democrat and Republican leaders are encouraging it. "Sometimes, we heard former President Trump speak against it, but both parties are pushing active early voting, so that's why people are out. Abortion is driving people to the polls. Issues of immigration and also the economy," French said. French says North Carolina has also been identified as a swing state, and now people know how important their vote will be. "This is going to be 75,000 people that pay attention to politics for about five minutes out of the month, o it's really going to be about that thin," French said. French believes early voting numbers will continue to break records. "I don't think it's going to trickle down. I think we're going to get more and more people pushing out early voting," French said.