Bomb threats forced the evacuation of Beverly Elementary School in Toledo on Tuesday morning, in the middle of Election Day voting at the school, which was serving as a polling place. Toledo police and the department's bomb squad swept the building with dogs while the voters who had come to cast their ballots waited outside.
Police were at the school by about 10:30 in the morning after the threat came in. There were no classes to clear — the school was closed to students for Election Day — but the polling place was in full operation, and everyone inside was brought out while the search went on.
Voting did not stop. With about 40 voters waiting, election workers moved voting outdoors and extra voting machines were brought in, so the people in line could still cast their ballots on the sidewalk and grounds beside the school while the sweep continued inside.
Police then cleared the building, and voters and staff were allowed back inside, where voting resumed. The polling place had been closed for less than two hours, and the state was notified of the closure. A second threat was also reported at Monac Elementary School in Toledo; nothing was found there. Threats were reported at several schools across northwest Ohio on Tuesday, and authorities are investigating who made them.
For the voters at Beverly Elementary, the morning's disruption ended the way it should: nobody was hurt, nothing was found, and every voter who stayed — and every voter who comes later — can still cast a ballot. Ohio polls close at 7:30 p.m., and anyone in line at closing time still votes.
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