PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine officials called on the state’s voters to use absentee ballots as much as possible during this week’s primary, and they’ve responded in overwhelming fashion.

Voters in the state requested more than 203,000 absentee ballots by Monday. That’s more than five times the number they requested before the busy 2018 primary.

Maine’s primary is scheduled for Tuesday, and officials including Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who is not facing reelection, have encouraged voters to consider using absentee ballots.

Mills and others have cautioned voters that use of absentee ballots could be easier than attempting to vote at the polls, which will observe social distancing rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.