HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. — Thousands of voters showed up to the polls in Hamilton County on Monday. Election officials there said they have seen larger early voting crowds than they ever have before. Hamilton County voters showed up in large numbers Monday, so large that some voters waited two and a half to four hours to cast their ballots. "We were expecting a crowd, I don’t know if we were expecting this big of a crowd," said Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Kreag Williams. Hamilton County election officials said they have received close to 98,100 early votes. They have also received 20,000 additional absentee ballots. Williams said voters always show up in large numbers for presidential elections, but she said the turnout has grown in recent cycles. "Presidentials always have about a 75% turnout," Williams said. "More people are voting early now. So, our crowds are getting bigger." Political experts add that Hamilton County elections have also gotten much more competitive in recent years, even when it comes to school board races. "Hamilton County is very politically engaged and active," said Dr. Laura Wilson, an associate professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis. "These are people that are paying attention, discerning when it comes to candidates and politicians, and oftentimes, we see these as close races that is not just a given for one party or another." That is why Wilson said Hamilton County is considered to be a bit of an indicator for the rest of Indiana. "A lot of times, we think of it as a good microcosm, almost this perfect sample for what we might expect to see in terms of the general population in an electoral vote," Wilson said. Right now, many voters all across the country are keeping their eyes on swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. While Wilson said Hamilton County might not be a direct indicator of the outcome in these states, she said it can help paint a picture of just how tight the race is. "The population in Hamilton County is quite a bit different than many of the swing states," she said. "It’s not Georgia or Nevada, but it would help us understand how the voters are breaking — especially for those undecideds. And we see Pennsylvania with 19 Electoral College votes being incredibly close. Hamilton County could be like that." As even more voters make it out to the polls on Tuesday, Hamilton County election officials warn people should expect some wait times.