Voters report smooth time at central Toledo polling spot

11/6/2012
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    Jay Feldstein, an observer at the Kent Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, spoke with Valentina Beene, 35, of Toledo. Beene had had to vote provisionally after having been removed from the rolls, despite having voted at Kent in previous elections.

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  • Jay Feldstein, an observer at the Kent Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, spoke with Valentina Beene, 35, of Toledo. Beene had had to vote provisionally after having been removed from the rolls, despite having voted at Kent in previous elections.
    Jay Feldstein, an observer at the Kent Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, spoke with Valentina Beene, 35, of Toledo. Beene had had to vote provisionally after having been removed from the rolls, despite having voted at Kent in previous elections.

    Latimore Raymond knew her husband was registered to vote. They've been married 17 years and usually go and vote together.

    But, when they arrived at the Kent Branch Library in central Toledo today to cast their ballots, Mrs. Latimore's husband, Raymond, was told the address on his driver's license didn't match the address on the voter registration list.

    "I don't understand it -- we're married," said Mrs. Raymond, whose address matched correctly and was allowed to vote. "We'd like to know why (Mr. Raymond's address was listed incorrectly).

    "You wonder if they are trying to rig up something."

    Poll workers at the library weren't sure why Mr. Raymond's address was incorrect, but he was allowed to vote after he provided a copy of a medical bill that verified his home address.

    Most problems are resolved quickly, but when they aren't, voters are allowed to cast a "provisional ballot," which is counted later if the voter information can be verified, said Mark Pollock, a poll captain for Precinct 19-A, Toledo, at the Locke Branch Library poll site.

    As of 2 p.m. today, 10 people, out of 151 total voters for Precinct 19-A, Toledo, had to fill out provisional ballots, Mr. Pollock said. That total is not out-of-the ordinary, he said.

    "Everything has been running smoothly," said Mr. Pollock.

    By 2 p.m., more than 184 people had voted in Precinct 18-A, Toledo, also at the Locke Branch Library, poll workers said. An additional 28 provisional ballots had also been cast.

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    Voting lines at most Toledo area polling sites began to slow down mid-afternoon today, but were expected to grow again as people leave work, election officials said.

    Trevon Bryant Bey, 18, voted for the first time at the Kent Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
    Trevon Bryant Bey, 18, voted for the first time at the Kent Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

    The line of voters at the Kent Branch Library snaked out to the parking lot for several hours after the polling site opened the doors at 6:30 a.m., today. Voting in Ohio closes at 7:30 p.m.

    "I only had to wait about 10 minutes,"  said voter Kelly Jordan, who arrived at the Kent library branch during lunch break.

    Ms. Jordan, who relocated from Indianapolis, said she was very interested in the local issues, including the proposed $13.3 million permanent operating levy for Toledo Public Schools, a new recreation levy for the city of Toledo, and an additional levy for Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

    "The process to adding levies isn't as contentious in Indiana as it is here," said Mrs. Jordan. "I thought the local issues were very important."

    Perhaps the most excited voter at the library was 18-year-old Trevon Bryant Bey, who voted for the first time today. He arrived to vote at about 1 p.m. with his mother, Charise Bryant Bey.

    "That's all he's been talking about all week," said Charise Bryant Bey, who said her son work her up early to remind her they needed to go and vote. "He even handed me a piece of paper telling me how he wanted me to vote."