close
close
  • Tue. Nov 5th, 2024
    • '
    Columbus area voters head to polling places
    News

    Columbus area voters head to polling places

    author
    3 minutes, 16 seconds Read

    Follow Election Day events with this live blog, updated regularly as voting continues.

    How was your voting experience?

    As you head to the polls today, The Dispatch would like to hear from you how it went.

    How long was the line? Were there any problems? Fill out our form below to answer these questions and more. We may use your answers in our reporting.

    Republicans and Democrats take part in the elections as observers

    According to Franklin County Board of Elections spokesman Aaron Sellers, Republicans planned to send 240 observers to Franklin County's 302 polling locations.

    198 observers have registered for the Democrats.

    Sellers could not say how many observers have attended previous presidential elections or whether that is the highest number of all observers. But that's a lot, he said.

    Republicans promised months ago to recruit poll watchers to monitor this November election.

    According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, observers are not permitted to interfere with poll workers or voters. They may “observe and inspect” ballots or other “election materials,” but may not touch them. You cannot take photos, videos or audio recordings.

    Observers cannot enforce laws but can report concerns to the local elections board. On election day, observers must swear that they will abide by the law.

    Watch out for long voting lines

    Several counties in central Ohio reported long lines Tuesday morning, despite numerous early votes.

    Voting at the Indianola Church of Christ in the University District is typically a back-and-forth experience. This year, however, voters strolled around the basement of the church on campus for nearly 25 minutes, waiting for a machine. A mix of university students and local residents waited patiently to cast their votes. One of the poll workers told those waiting that they could use a paper ballot instead of waiting for a machine, but everyone remained seated.

    About 30 people were in line at Victory Hill Church in Greenfield Township in Fairfield County when the polls opened at 6:30 a.m., according to polling place manager Bob Huffman.

    “It’s great to see people exercising their rights,” he said.

    Huffman said the morning was busy, with the church's four districts doing well.

    Polls open

    The election opened at 6:30 a.m. this morning, allowing millions of Ohioans to cast their votes for President, Senator, Representatives and hundreds of local precincts across the state. Polling stations will remain open until 7:30 p.m. this evening.

    In addition to the presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, Ohioans will decide between incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno for the U.S. Senate, in what is the most expensive non-presidential race in U.S. history.

    Other statewide issues include three Ohio Supreme Court justice seats and Issue 1, which would change the way maps for congressional and statehouse districts are drawn.

    Voters will decide the fate of several races in central Ohio, including a proposal to increase the sales tax by half a percent (from 0.5% to 1.0%) in the area served by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). increase to fund mass transit improvements, known as LinkUS.

    What you need to vote

    Voting rules have changed to require Ohioans to show valid photo ID at the polls. Acceptable IDs are:

    • Ohio driver's license (It is not necessary to provide the address where you are registered to vote.)
    • Ohio State ID Card
    • US passport or passport card
    • Military ID issued by the Ohio National Guard or the U.S. Government
    • US Veterans Affairs ID card
    • Provisional identification form from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (BMV)

    Those without valid ID will be asked to vote with a provisional ballot.

    Stay tuned for updates to this live election blog throughout the day.

    Dispatch reporters Mark Williams, Bob Vitale, Sheridan Hendrix, Belinda Paschal, Sophia Veneziano and Barbara Perenic contributed to this report.

    Get all the election news you need: download our mobile app

    Stay informed on Election Day: Sign up for our email news alerts

    Similar Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *