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In pictures: Hicksville, Ohio on the eve of the election

The sleepy town at the heart of the battleground state goes to the polls today.

By Nicky Woolf

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.

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…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.

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