TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida officials say heavy early and absentee ballot voting may be a sign of a record or near-record turnout for a mid-term election.

Department of State spokeswoman Jennifer Krell Davis said Friday that prediction, though, comes with a caveat.

Two years ago more Floridians voted early and by absentee than on Election Day.

If that happens again, the 2010 turnout may not threatened the 66 percent off-year record set in 1994, Davis said.

The early vote through Thursday was 774,911.

Absentee figures are not public records, but can be given to candidates and political parties. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio's campaign has put out a statement saying a total of 1.7 million Floridians have voted early and by absentee.