CINCINNATI - After weeks of hearing from the campaigns, Ohio voters are finally getting to mark their choices on Tuesday, Election Day, from among dozens of candidates, issues and levies.
At the Hyde Park Bethelem United Methodist Church in Oakley on Hyde Park Avenue, there are just two precincts for Oakley and Hyde Park residents. But throughout the early morning hours, we've seen the parking lot full outside, and almost every polling both taken inside.
Hamilton County Election officials are predicting 35 percent to 37 percent turnout from all 600,000 registered voters. If the pace at places like the Oakley church are indicators, they will easily reach that goal.
Some voters waited in their cars in the cold and dark pre-dawn hours until the polls formally opened at 6:30 a.m.
The Election Day voting comes after very popular early voting that has already seen 47,000 voters in Hamilton County alone handing in their completed absentee ballots by the close of business on Monday.
In Cincinnati, many of the ballots are both sides of two pages, so it is taking a little longer to cast ballots today than in most off-year elections. But most of the voters we asked, say they found voting generally quick, with them getting in and out within 10 minutes.
Ohio polls will stay open until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
If you've gotten an absentee ballot, don't bring that to your polling place, because it won't be accepted there and you won't be allowed to vote. Instead take your completed absentee ballot to your county Board of Elections offices by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night to be counted.
