Tyler, Texas (Smith County) — President Obama cast his ballot early, he's the first president to vote early in the history of the United States.

In Texas, Governor Rick Perry headed to the voting booth prematurely as well.

Checking the ballot box before the big day seems to be the new trend, and the poll numbers in smith county prove it.

According to the latest poll check-in summary, since October 22, 2012 an average of 5 thousand people, per day, have turned out at the polls in Smith County to vote early.

Karen Nelson, Smith County elections administrator,  says that's double what is was last election at this time, and she says the traffic they've seen on the weekend is unusually high.

Nelson says, "Typically Saturdays across the county that's our lowest day, always but I've been pushing vote early on Saturday, and everybody took us up on it because we have been busy across the county."

The people who vote early say they usually do for convenience, like Cliff Wilson, "it's kinda hard to get to vote when you're working and in school full time so vote early while I can."

Early voting ends November 2, and with about 4,000 additional registered voters in Smith County this year they expect this upcoming week to be just as busy as the first.

The polls will be open Sunday 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Monday October 29 - Friday November 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.