Ohioans please check in and update with your observations...

[kevin881]

as far as turnout, where you are from in Ohio, and your general impressions.

IMHO this is the most important state this election.

[LisaL]

1. Here in Columbus Oh

It's raining. THe rain is not bad. I waited in line to vote for maybe an hour or so. I voted on a touch screen electronic voting machine, but not Diebold. The turnout is going to be high, despite the rain.
Cleveland has punch cards (the ones with chads) but at least you could re-count them.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. Good news about the rain not being hard.

GLad to hear it won't keep people from voting.

[aneerkoinos]

15. no matter the weather...

If it rains, let it rain
Yeah, the wetter the better

They ain’t gon’ stop us - they can't
We're stronger now, more then ever
They tell us "No", we say "Yeah"
They tell us "Stop", we say "Go"
Rebel with a rebel yell
Raise hell - we gon’ let em know
Stomp, push, shove, mush...

[FatSlob]

2. High turnout in Republican Madeira...Cincy suburb.

Long lines. I saw them driving by, I absentee voted.

[blue sky at night]

4. Stow, OH. Akron Suburb

Long lines this am, talked to a fellow MoveOn volunteer who's husband it an attorney helping with challengers in Akron, he has 40 already and its only 9:00AM. Trying to contact my voters and checking them off as they vote.

[Ninga]

8. Eastern Cuyahoga County, (Cleveland Ohio)

Very long lines early this morning, seemed to slack off at 9:00 AM.

A friend called to say that at a polling place in Shaker Hg ts, challenging was taking place, causing confusion and upset among older minority voters.

There is an unanswered question about provisional ballots and whether a sticker should be place on the envelope or not.

Several lawsuits are waiting to be filed, among them, keeping the polls open past 7:30.

[maxsolomon]

28. they allow minorities in shaker heights?

i don't think so.

[venus]

38. "causing confusion and upset among older minority voters."

I hope they didn't vote for Blackwell for Sec of State. It's so sad these folks are being challenged. Probably have been voting for decades. May have even lost loved ones or friends back in the 60's civil rights movement. Yet their vote is actually challenged. How can one be proud of this type of "democracy".

[Edgewater_Joe]

5. HEUEUEUGE Lines According to Cleveland Radio

And this despite a driving rain in Cleveland today. Two hour waits as of 7 a.m. EST.

Looking good ...

[obietiger]

6. Nice weather right now

in northeast Ohio but rain expected. I voted absentee but a neighbor told me that she was number 76 voting at 8:30. We are in a small ward with only 2 precincts.

[LisaL]

9. I was number 1000 something at around 8:30 am

here in Columbus.
I didn't see anyone being challenged, but then, there are not many african-americans around here, so they (the challengers) probably don't bother.
Go Kerry!

[HarveyBrooks]

7. Light rain and long lines...

in Toledo.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Doctor_J]

14. we're so used to rolling over for the RW

something like this is small potatoes. don't forget in 2000 they just stole the vote in broad daylight and there was nary a peep.

I think the problem is that the MSM is all GOP. We can yell, but not loud enough to be heard of MSRNC, CRNC, Faux, CNN, and hate radio.

[AnnInLa]

17. We ARE shaking and trembling with frustration

Just heard Senator Clinton on AAR, and she said she would make it her priority to work with PRESIDENT KERRY to reform the election process in this country. We can only hope and pray she gets the chance to do this...if anyone can accomplish this major task, she and PRESIDENT KERRY can.

[Village Idiot]

22. I truly hope you are right.

Perhaps this is another flaw in the two party system - it's WAY too easy to look at an electoral map and decide where, as a party, it would do you the most good to suppress or defraud the electorate...

With a three or four or five party system, you are so busy attempting to differentiate your party's views from all the others that you do not have the time to defraud or suppress...also, because there are more parties here, the vote seems more evenly distributed (don't get me wrong, there are plenty of districts that vote en bloc one party or another, especially in Quebec)...

anyay, to one and all, GOOD LUCK - don't get discouraged, and please please please elect John Kerry / John Edwards!

[July]

18. Agree, and could you describe your system?

What types of ballots/machines do you use?

Do you register to vote, or use a national ID?

Who mans the polls (citizens, party reps)?

How is the count conducted, and about how long does it take?

Hope you have a minute to tell us.

And I think your rant is completely justified. It is a national embarrassment to have such a poorly functioning system to have the people choose their leaders.

[Village Idiot]

21. We used optical scanning machines

in the last election.

We register to vote, but if you are NOT registered, all you need is photo ID...

The voting was finished by 10:00PM (British Columbia) and we had a winner about ah hour before ALL voting was finalized - and this was an extremely close election - a minority Liberal government was elected. - "NDP" = Left, "CPC" = Right, "Liberal" = centrist-left, "BQ" = separatist...

It really hurts to see the trouble, corruption and dishonesty going on down there...

I am not naive enough to believe that there wasn't some suppression and fraud going on up here, since a Liberal government was elected (Liberal party is under a cloud of scandal from a federal sponsorship scandal that saw $250M go to party friendly advertising services), but nothing like what you poor folks have to contend with.

I would, quite literally, be shaking with rage if I had to put up with a 1-2 hr. wait just to vote...I am shaking with rage FOR YOU GUYS right at this minute!!!

I really wish everyone in the USA the best, today, I pray for a free and honest electoral process with as little animosity as possible...This election is the most important election INTERNATIONALLY, as well as nationally, remember...

GO JOHN KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!

[July]

23. Thanks, and a howdy, neighbor, from this Buffalo native.

(I don't live there now, though.)

[kurt_cagle]

31. We ARE shaking and trembling with RAGE

We have had a neo-fascist government in place for several years, working first behind the scenes then downright blatantly to do everything they could to stay in power, regardless of how illegal or unethical. I've voted in every election since 1980, and 2000 was the first real experience of realizing that this country was under an illicit regime.

The work of the next decade is going to be to boot these people out, then clean up all the corruption and decay they've left behind. I want my daughters to vote with pride, not fearful that voting for the opposition could put you under surveillance or worse.

[Zuni]

36. Go F--- yourself

I mean it.

"you are so stupid you don't deserve to vote."

[kc.ink]

11. my precinct, I was #56 out of 380 registered voters

Small town Ohio,home of Whirlpool Washers, no problems, I was in at 8:30am and done at 8:54 am

I noticed the bikers and hippies were at the poll, unusual, that has not happened since Viet Nam. Even people who had not voted previously, the "unconcerned" that would bitch about the economy and politics in general, are voting.

Neighbor lady is poll worker, I asked how the turn out was going, like I usually do. . . . . she said more than usual for the time of day. Ohio budget cuts put 3 precincts in one polling location, that's how it was during primary also. During the primary, only 20% of registered voters in my precinct voted.

[kc.ink]

13. BTW, voting method used was "Fill in the Oval" with a pencil

[A Brand New World]

12. I work in the same building as all of the precincts in my small Ohio city

At 8:00 a.m. a poll worker I saw in the restroom said that they had as many in her precinct already at 8:00 as they usually have by 10:00 a.m. Unfortunately my county is mostly repub. but I think the Dems picked up quite a few new registrations lately.

[Craig Leonard]

16. Cuyahoga Falls

My wife and I showed up to vote at 6:30 and there were already 40-50 people in front of us. Lots of younger voters.

My dad, who is usually one of the first 5 voters at his station was 102 this morning.

It was great to see so many people exercising their right to vote.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Craig Leonard!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[blue sky at night]

32. Howdy Neighbor

Welcome to DU, this is the place to be! I live over in stow, working for MoveOn Pac. I'll keep an eye out for your posts.

[HFishbine]

19. Anybody from Lisbon?

My girlfriend's hometown. Any word?

[theHandpuppet]

20. A friendly kick from a WV neighbor

Howdy, Buckeyes! Kerry us to victory tonight!

[OhioChick]

24. Just got back....

A lot of people there, looks good. The husband went early this morning and waited in a LONG line.....

[Connie_Corleone]

26. I'm in Cincinnati

I went to vote at 6:45am and I was about the 10th person in line. In past elections, I'm usually the 2nd or 3rd person in line. After I finished voting, the line got longer. Black people are coming out to vote EARLY today!!

[LisaL]

27. The weather is clearing up in Columbus OH!

I see a little sun pocking out!
GO KERRY/EDWARDS 2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chili]

29. copied from another thread

sorry for the redundancy:

(1) I live in a heavily Democratic precinct in Cuyahoga County, about 50/50 racially mixed. They had moved our traditional poll from a school to a Catholic shrine - I was worried, I didnt' trust that they wouldn't move us to a SMALLER site - but it was much larger. I originally meant to get to the polls at 6:00 and wait in line, but decided I'd wait until all the people who needed to get to work were done. So I aimed for 10:00. When I got there, the line was just out the door, but inside I discovered that there were actually 6 lines snaking around tables with chairs in the middle for people to sit down. I actually only waited an hour before I got to a booth. There were at least 200-250 people there, waiting patiently, for the most part. I didn't see anyone leave without voting.

(2) I was prepared to be harassed and challenged, so I stopped by Walgreen's first to buy an umbrella and a camera. In my pocket I had a tape recorder, tape, and fresh batteries. I had my passport, too. I was met at the door by a woman asking me what precinct I was in. I was instantly suspicious because she asked to see my registration card, so I just told her without showing her the card, I didn't know who she was. She pointed me to the correct line (I later apologized for being so suspicious, LOL). I didn't see a single person who didn't "belong" there - if there were challengers there at all, they were all on break. In fact, there was a pile of "CHALLENGE" forms sitting right in the middle of the table where you sign your name - and it was still in the cellophane, not one form had been removed!

I was so relieved when I left I almost screamed out loud! The most I'd ever had to wait to vote in the past was 30 mins, in 1996. Usually, there are only 5 people or so in front of me. So this was a huge turnout.

So good news from at least one precinct I thought would be a target!

[Lady President]

30. Another report from Columbus

I waited over 2 hrs. to vote and the line was getting longer. I arrived a little after 8:00 and was back in my car (which was parked on the street because the lot was overflowing) at 10:25.

I only saw one person leave without voting. It was a woman with two small children and she said she was going to drop the kids off with their grandmother, then return.

Do they always start with #1? I was #1161. It would be amazing if that many people had already voted.

[rasberry]

33. I'm in Columbus

Waited in line for 1 hour 45 minutes at 6:30 AM. I was number 1107. Finally voted on touch screen machine with no paper trail. Afew students were forced to cover up t-shirts and to remove buttons, and to hide voting guides.

Spent next 3 hours working the phone banks to get out the democratic vote.

FYI the campaign signs on my street are 80% Kerry, 20% Bush - pretty liberal area though.

[SeanOhio]

34. Springfield

I was #87 at 8:05 AM. The precinct in the other part of my church had #155 at 8:00 AM and a huge line going outside. Never seen anything like this--I hope it favours Kerry!

[Kukesa]

35. At 9 am I was voter #148 in my Dayton precinct.

And, as of 8/4/04, there were 447 registered voters in this suburb, Washington Twp.

I waited about 30 minutes; 35 people ahead of me in line and about the same number behind me.

I've voted in this precinct for 25 years and HAVE NEVER HAD TO WAIT BEFORE TODAY.

BTW, we've got a similar thread over in our Ohio forum.

Five more hours and we'll know that we turned Ohio BLUE.

[Radio-Active]

37. I voted at 9:30 AM, Vine Street near OTR in Cincinnati

Only 4 other voters were there!

I hope people are just waiting to the rain to stop, which it will.

I was cheered up later when I drove around and saw absolutely NO Bush signs/stickers, and tons for Kerry!