More than 1.2 million ballots cast in key state of Ohio

[hue]

Source: Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 1.2 million Ohio residents have already voted in the state which is seen as one of the most crucial in deciding the November 6 presidential election.

The Ohio Secretary of State's office said that as of October 26, about 1.26 million voters had cast ballots by mail-in absentee ballots or through early in-person voting. That represents about 22 percent of the number of people who voted in the 2008 presidential election.

Secretary Jon Husted said the pace of early voting was picking up ahead of next week's election. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 5 or they can be delivered in person to the board of elections until the close of polls on November 6.

The Secretary of State's office said 1.32 million absentee ballots had been sent out this year. About 64,000 have not yet been cast.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-ohiobre89t1sp-20121030,0,757616.story

[liberal N proud]

1. When I voted, the line was just like election day.

Granted, it was county wide at the polling location, but in the past, when I voted early at the election office, I walked in and quickly received a ballot.
Stood in line for 15 minutes just to get to the counter. They had 50 machines available most in use vs less than a dozen in previous years.

[freshwest]

2. Okay, so most of the absentee ballots are done; what's the projection on walk up voting? Sorry,

I don't know how many people are expected to vote and the link didn't show the number of registered voters in 2012, although it says this would equal 22% of the 2008 vote. I'm hoping nothing is going to stop these people from being heard.

Ohio has had a lot of grief in the past and then Kasich says it's essentially in the bag. How would he know such a thing, or is he just saying it to demoralize Democrats into not voting?

[BlueNoteSpecial]

4. I won't pretend...

...to have the answers to your questions, but I voted early, last Wed.@ 8:00 a.m. here in in Clark Co., in person, by paper ballot. There were roughly 30-40 of us waiting for the doors to open, good moods worn by all but a few scowling freepers, and boy, did We have fun with that! Governor * is not held in high regard here, and is basically a mittwad, who like his master(s), can NOT be held up as remotely honest. We've got this... the ground operation is impressive, with the Democrats all over it. I cruise by every day, with longer lines each day, everyone I know is voting by paper, & I'm telling you, We've got this. Ohio voting facts can be perused @ http//www.ohvotes.org/ Good guys CAN win, and a week from now it will be proved. Stay strong, stay true, stay Blue, again!

[freshwest]

6. Thanks, it's encouraging to hear from someone on the ground, the media coverage, well, it sucks.

I'm gonna believe in Ohio getting it done! Appreciate all those details, it's the stories by people and not polls that are best.

[BlueNoteSpecial]

8. Welcome...

...media & polls...don't get me started! FCOL!

[midnight]

9. Yes... I agree..

[Mkap]

3. One of those 1.2 million

One of those 1.2 million voters is ME...voted today for Barack Obama, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Jim Slone for congress! Little worried if my vote will actually count. Knowing the Seceretary of Suppression Jon Husted i hope my ballot doesn't get lost or not counted.

[pocoloco]

5. Wow! Great!

Now let's hurry and get them sent to Barcelona for counting!!

[midnight]

7. Does anyone know how early voting is polled? I don't know if that is correctly worded, but

the people sampling how people are voting, and who is coming out ahead?

[Marthe48]

10. My husband and I voted yesterday

Washington County, Ohio. We had to go to the courthouse in Marietta, I think all early voting in the county is done there. We got there in the afternoon. We had the rain and wind from Sandy, so we thought it'd be pretty quiet, but it wasn't. I think there was at least a constant dozen people getting ballots, voting, leaving, entering, as soon as one or two people left, another one or two appeared.
Southeastern Ohio used to be Democratic, but it is changing. Marietta is mostly republican, but has a strong, active Democratic Party. I hope everyone we met at the courthouse was voting blue.