ELYRIA — People have been lining up since 1 this afternoon at the Lorain County Community College Stocker Center box office to get tickets to see President Barack Obama speak Friday, and placeholder tickets are now being handed out.

The placeholder tickets allow ticketholders to leave or roam about freely rather than stand in line. People with placeholder tickets are being told to return at 5:30 to exchange the placeholders for actual tickets.

The actual tickets for President Barack Obama’s Friday town hall meeting at Lorain County Community College are being handed out from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets are being made available on a first-come, first-served basis from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the college’s Stocker Center box office, according to the college’s Web site.

There are a limited number of tickets and a limit of two per person.

The event will be held at the LCCC Field House and doors will open at 11 a.m. Those attending must be in the Field House by 1 p.m., the Web site said.

Airport-like security will be in place, and those attending are asked to bring as few personal items as possible. Bags, sharp objects, umbrella, liquids, strollers and signs will be barred from the event, the Web site said.

Cameras will be allowed inside.

The White House has said Obama will spend the day in the Lorain County area discussing jobs and the economy.

Visit the LCCC Web site for more info on the visit and and map of where to pick up tickets.

Read Wednesday’s Chronicle for more details on Obama’s visit to Lorain County.