SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - City and town clerks in Massachusetts
are reporting a surge in applications for absentee ballots for the
November election.

They say it reflects intense interest in the presidential
election and foreshadows a high turnout on Election Day.

Agawam clerk Richard Theroux is predicting a 20 percent increase
over the approximately 1,000 absentee ballots that were cast by
residents of the city in 2004. Theroux tells the Republican
newspaper of Springfield that many of the requests are coming from
college students who seem to be excited about voting in a national
election for the first time.

Secretary of State William Galvin says tens of thousands of
people statewide have applied for absentee ballots. Galvin says the
ballots are being printed and will be sent to clerks' offices soon.