Ohio Polls 2012: Closing Time, Opening Time, And Where To Vote

Ohio, it's time to cast your vote. And what an important vote it is in your 'swing state.'

Here's what you need to know about polls in Ohio on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

The closing time for polls in Ohio is 7:30 p.m. local time. That's an earlier closure than most other states, so make sure you get to the polls as soon as you can.

The opening time for Ohio polls is 6:30 a.m. local time, earlier than several other states so you do have an opportunity to vote early in the morning.

Some have voted already. 'Early voting' lines in Ohio have been quite long.

Not sure where to vote? If you're an Ohio resident, you can use this handy poll location guide from the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

Ohio has only 18 electoral votes up for grab but they're a critical 18 votes. The Buckeye State is nearly essential to capture for presidential aspirations; in fact, the winner of Ohio has gone on to win the White House every presidential contest since 1964. See our election map here.