Early voting in Alaska has surpassed that from 2006, the last non-presidential election.

The state Division of Elections reports more than 17,200 early voting ballots had been cast as of Sunday, a figure that includes absentee-in person votes. The early vote count for the 2006 general election was 8,455.

The state also mailed out nearly 30,020 by-mail absentee ballots; as of Sunday, it had received about 15,900 back. Roughly one-third of the vote-by-fax ballots sent out had been returned.

This year's ballot includes a hotly contested U.S. Senate race, plus races for Congress and governor.

Division Director Gail Fenumiai says only early votes cast through Monday and ballots cast at precincts will be counted Tuesday.