The sleepy town of Hicksville, Ohio, where I have been stationed, goes to the polls today with the rest of the United States.

Hicksville is a patriotic town - many houses proudly fly the stars and stripes.

Many of the houses boast the ubiquitous lawn signs outside. Josh Mandel is running for Senate for the Republicans - against the hugely popular incumbent democrat Sherrod Brown.

...but not all the yard-signs are political. This one offers "free kittens".

Hicksville is a largely affluent town - many of the houses here are large and distinguished.

This junk shop was damaged just a week ago - a truck from the grain-silo opposite rolled into the front of it, its brakes having failed.

Autumn here is beautiful - the area is known as the "rust belt" for more than just its steel industry at this time of year.

Hicksville is a largely conservative town - most of the signs are for Romney.

The town is dominated by this gigantic silo - and the railway which runs right through the town centre.