SILVER SPRING, Md. (DC News Now) -- Voting is officially in full swing as thousands headed to the polls on Thursday, the first day of early voting in Maryland.  Voters told DC News Now reproductive freedom, financial security and healthcare were some of the many issues that brought them out to the polls early.  “Education and the right of women to control their own destiny,” said one voter.  “I work in food safety, and there’s a lot of regulations that got curbed during the previous administration, and we are starting to see the ill effects of that,” Andrea, a Montgomery County voter, said.  2024 Voting Guide: DC, Virginia, Maryland According to the Montgomery County Board of Elections, about 179,000 people have requested mail-in ballots so far, and at least 6,000 people have voted in person on the first day of early voting. Gilberto Zalaya, a spokesperson for the local election board, said his team is well prepared to count each vote through a bipartisan task force as early voting gains momentum. “We have mechanisms in place to protect an individual’s interest and desire to vote, whether you’re voting in person and or if you’re voting by mail,” Zalaya said.  Voters at the Silver Spring Civic Center said the process was easy and relatively quick. For many, the average wait time was less than 10 minutes.  “The [voting] machines are very well designed,” a voter shared. “I had forgotten to vote for senator somehow, and it reminded me, which was really good.”  Montgomery County residents can vote early at the following locations:  Activity Center at Bohrer Park Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center  Damascus Community Recreation Center Executive Office Building  Germantown Community Recreation Center Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center  Mid-County Community Recreation Center  Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center  Potomac Community Recreation Center  Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Station Silver Spring Civic Building Wheaton Library & CommunityRecreation Center White Oak CommunityRecreation Center Early voting sites are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Early voting ends on Oct. 31 and Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5.