SEATTLE (AP) — The Secretary of State’s office has announced that 3.9 million people registered to vote this year, marking a new record.

Spokesman Dave Ammons says that in 2008 that number was 3.63 million. He says the 3.9 million registered voters is an increase of 180,000 since the August primary.

Earlier this week, State Secretary Sam Reed predicted that the state will see an 81 percent voter turnout by the time elections are over. Washington’s record is 79 percent.

Reed says the highly competitive races for president and governor, as well as some of the most compelling ballot measures in the country, such as gay marriage and marijuana legalization, will compel people to vote.

In August, Reed predicted a 46 percent turnout for the primary. The final tally was 38.5 percent.