SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (WNAX) – Record numbers of early votes may slow down election night reporting.

Janna Farley with ACLU of South Dakota says we will all need to be patient.

Farley says there are many extra steps in processing and counting absentee ballots.

Farley says slow returns don’t mean anything suspicious is going on.

Some county auditors will have teams in at 8 a.m. on election day to start opening absentee ballot envelopes and get them ready to count.