Forest Park, Precinct M

The celebratory atmosphere at Precinct M, Forest Park Ohio, was evident the whole day. Lines formed well before opening at 6:30 am. By 10 a.m. those standing near the front of the line had waited over an hour. No complaints, ever. Determination.

So many provisional votes! So many had moved from one apartment to another, "away from Mom," from Sharonville to Winton Road, from Sandusky to Forest Park. 1186 Winton Circle to Winton Lane, just around the corner. Later in the day, 1184 Winton Circle to Winton Lane. Will they count? I knew that a move within the precinct would be re-registered on the spot and a regular ballot given. But I was depressed thinking the provisionals wouldn't until about noon, thinking, thinking, thinking so many would not count. But a call to "the Boiler Room" assured me that registration anywhere in Ohio was the touchstone, and the Board of Elections would verify the prior Ohio registration, and most would count. But still there was extra paperwork that might be screwed up somehow.

Hardly anything over the lunch hour! So I expected a barbell pattern but (!)no mad rush at the end as expected. Nothing.

But the last voters were touching beyond belief. The Word Was Out. Get out your relatives, no matter what! Things are desperate! Wheelchairs, quadreplegics with tender handlers. Beautiful mothers with babies in one hand pen in the other. Teen age daughters watching mothers vote as part of history. Mom brought in the a car for a curbside vote, halting the line while the registration book etc. was brought out by two poll workers.

Still, those provisional votes! An extra "Declaration" to fill out. So much work. All 35 provisionals did it, patiently, and without complaint. How many provisionals would hold up? How many would be thrown out by some technical mistake or omission on the declatation, etc.?

As each vote was scanned and the grinding sound meant "no errors," it was like hitting the jackpot at Argosy. Each vote was silver and gold. 321 jackpots, 35 provisional, 12 "spoils." 40 absentees would be added later if needed.

McCain 30, Obama 249, other 4