GAINESVILLE - Early voting started for the City of Gainesville election.  A higher number of people showed up to avoid the possibility of long lines.

"I just went in showed them my I.D. they gave me the ballot and I went on my way," Stephanie Seawright an early voter said.

Stephanie Seawright is one of the 156 residents that came to vote early in this election where there's a mayor's race, a city commission seat up for grabs and a ballot question.

Supervisor of elections officials say 20 fewer people voted early on the first day of the last city election in 2011.

"We hope to be ready for our voters in any way they choose to vote early whether they choose to vote by mail or if they choose to go the polls on election day we'll be there to serve them," Pam Carpenter, Supervisor of Elections said.

Supervisor of Elections officials say they have already received 2400 absentee ballots which is a hundred more than the 2011 election.

Election hours are from 9-5 on weekdays 9-2 on Saturday and 11-2 on Sunday at the Alachua County Headquarters in Downtown Gainesville