COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP):  Polls have opened in Ohio with Gov. John Kasich and other Republican candidates hoping to slow down businessman and front-runner Donald Trump.

The director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections says the Cincinnati-area polls in the southwest county opened on time at 6:30 a.m.

Director Sherry Poland says people were in line before polls opened at some locations. Poland says voting seems to be moving smoothly with election officials predicting around a 40 to 45 percent turnout before polls close at 7:30 p.m.

Kasich is counting heavily on his home state to give him is first win in the campaign as he goes up against Trump and the other Republican candidates in the presidential race. Bernie Sanders is challenging Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side.