Polls Open For Election Day

Polls have opened in Ohio as Gov. John Kasich appears poised to clinch a re-election victory to lead the state for another four years. Election sites opened their doors at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after nearly a month of early voting. Polls remain open until 7:30 p.m. Kasich's Democratic rival, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, saw tactical missteps and negative revelations effectively sink his campaign, leaving Democrats without a mouthpiece to remind voters of their 2011 collective-bargaining fight against Kasich. FitzGerald's troubles also were among factors expected to depress overall turnout Tuesday, hurting down-ticket Democrats' efforts to unseat incumbent Republicans in the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer. Races for treasurer and one Supreme Court seat were considered most competitive. Voters are also deciding many legislative races and more than 1,600 local issues. In Columbus, voters are considering changes to the city charter that would, among other things, double the number of petition signatures required to put a citizen initiative on the ballot.