Poll close in Ohio, let the counting begin

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The polls are closed in Ohio, but the voting continues.

Ohioans vote from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., but if you are in line at closing time, you still get to vote, and your vote counts.

2 News had a crew at the Cox Arboretum, a polling place in Miami Township, and the line there at 7:30 was long enough that some were saying it would take at at least  another two hours to get everyone through.

Because of the volume of people, sheriff's deputies were called there just as a precaution, but there were no problems.

In Centerville, one precinct had a line out the door when polls closed and it was estimated it would not be clear of voters until 8:45 p.m.

The full results of Tuesday's election likely won't be known until Wednesday.

Few glitches reported

According to elections officials in Montgomery County, with the exception of some minor glitches, the day of balloting went as well as can be expected.

Board of Elections director Steve Harsman told 2 NEWS there were a few incidents of malfunctioning machines, but those problems were resolved and no one in the county has been turned away without being able to vote.

There was a delay in Miamisburg when the fire alarm sounded at St. Jacob Lutheran Church. Poll workers secured the machines while the building was cleared. After it was determined it was a false alarm, everyone came back inside to vote.

Harsman said a survey of precincts from around the county indicated that on average, it took voters no longer than 20 minutes to cas their ballots.

The delays did not phase voters.

"Just a lot of people. They had something to say. They've been quiet too long and they're not going to be quiet any more," said Bobbi Jacobs.

Others decided to vote with their feet and come back later rather stand in line. "I have a lot of enthusiasm. It's just I'm going to have some enthusiasm later on tonight because I don't feel like waiting four hours to vote," said voter Daniel Holbrook

According to Secretary of State, John Husted, more voters have cast absentee ballots in this election, than any other since early voting began in 2006. As of yesterday, nearly 1.8 million Ohioans had already cast their ballots

Dayton attorney and former Board of Elections member Dennis Lieberman, who was fired for defying Secretary of State John Husted's earlier directive to eliminate early voting on the weekends, said his firing was worth it because there was a need and that need has been met.

"I think when we are all said and done and we've counted up the early voting and the absentee mail-ins that we will come close to 80,000 ballots which will exceed 2008 by almost 30,000.

2 NEWS will have complete election coverage of all the key races and issues from the Dayton region. Tonight, Jordan Burgess, Megan O'Rourke, Pam Elliot, Alexa Ashwell, Jackie Sprague and Dan Edwards will keep you up to date.