MONTGOMERY – Alabama has reached the 3 million mark in voter registrations for the first time in state history.

Alabama’s chief election official, Secretary of State Beth Chapman, said the record figure was reached Tuesday morning. But the number is still growing because officials continue to process voter registration applications that were sent by Friday’s deadline.

Alabama’s previous voter registration record was 2.88 million for the presidential election in 2000.

Chapman is predicting a record turnout next Tuesday between 79 percent and 81 percent.