More than half a million people have already voted in Connecticut – and the election is nearly a week away.

The crush of early voters has some state leaders worried about counting on Election Day. But local registrars believe they can get the job done on time.

The first year of Early Voting in Connecticut is shattering expectations. As of Tuesday night, 438,113 people had already cast a ballot in person and an additional 94,371 voted by mail, according to state elections officials.

“It’s more convenient,” said Norwalk voter Angela Henneghan. “I’ve never seen it like this.”

At Norwalk City Hall, 10,000 people have already voted early. But registrars aren’t allowed to count all those votes right away. Instead, ballots must be sealed in envelopes until Election Day.

“They get put in the vault in the Town Clerk’s office,” said Brian Smith, Norwalk’s Republican Voter Registrar. “And we don’t touch them until Election Day.”

That means a lot of counting on Election Day. Some state leaders are worried that cities and towns might not be able to get it done on time. Last week, Connecticut Senate Democrats asked Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas to supply extra resources.

“It is conceivable that thousands of early ballots, if not tens of thousands of early ballots, will have to be opened and counted in each and every Connecticut city and town on Election Day,” they wrote to Thomas. “We believe it is of the utmost importance that your office be prepared to offer any and all assistance and guidance to local registrars in the quick and accurate tallying of early votes.”

Thomas said she has reached to 20 communities with the highest Early Voting turnout, including Norwalk and Stamford.

“This is where registrars who have been doing this forever have been ahead of us,” Thomas said.

Despite the immense crowds, Norwalk’s voter registrars believe they can get all the votes tallied on time.

“We hope so,” said Democratic Voter Registrar Stuart Wells. “We’re hiring everybody we can get our hands on that can do that.”

As Henneghan cast her ballot on Wednesday, Wells and Smith were testing every ballot counting machine to make sure there are no delays on Election Day.

“We’re going to run them through four tabulators in different groups by district,” Wells said.

Cities and towns can start counting Early Voting ballots when the polls open at 6 a.m. They have to wait until 10 a.m. to count absentee ballots, which can be received until polls close at 8 p.m.

Election officials say they’re ready – but they could use some help.

“We’re still hiring, trust me,” said Smith. “203-854-7996. Ask for Brian.”

Early Voting runs through Sunday in Connecticut. The hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., but Thursday features extended hours from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.