Atlanta Election: Minute by Minute

By Jamie Gumbrecht and Staff

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Below is a running, minute-by-minute update following runoff Election Day in Atlanta. Readers can send news and tips to breakingnews@ajc.com.  See election results and find us on Twitter @ajcpolitics.

12:12 a.m. Kasim Reed has declared victory.  Mary Norwood has not conceded. If the votes are within 1 percent, a recount can be requested.

12:03 a.m.: Fulton County election officials say all early votes have been counted. Only provisional ballots remain to be counted, and that will happen on Thursday.

12:02 p.m. Kasim Reed says he's been awake since 5 a.m. thanks his family members and Lisa Borders. "Guess who's going to be the 59th mayor?" he asked.

11:39 p.m.: Barry Garner, director of registration and elections for Fulton County, said if the difference in the final vote is less than 1 percent, a recount will be granted if asked for. “As soon as the letter requesting a recount is received, I’d try to put things in motion the very next day,” he said. Provisional ballots will be counted Thursday, and the election will be certified at noon on Saturday.

11:36 p.m.: Fulton County says it is done counting for tonight. There is a 758 vote difference between Reed and Norwood in the Atlanta mayor race. Provisional ballots will be counted Thursday.

11:32 p.m.: With their wins, Simone Bell becomes first black lesbian elected to a state Legislature in the United States. Alex Wan becomes first  gay man and Asian American man elected to Atlanta City Council.

11:25 p.m.: Mary Norwood left The Varsity around 11 p.m. She told folks there she was going home. Read more from the Political Insider blog.

11:22 p.m.: Atlanta City Council race results show Aaron Watson, Alex Wan and Ceasar Mitchell far ahead. See results.

11:13 p.m. Fresh photos of Kasim Reed up at AJC.com.

11:08 p.m.: Fulton officials now say not all precincts have reported. The precincts include two in District 1 and one in District 4. Both districts went to Kasim Reed on Nov. 3.

11:03 p.m.: With 100 percent of precincts reporting, there are about 1,200 votes between Reed and Norwood. But there are about 6,000 additional votes cast in Fulton County that officials say they are counting now.

11 p.m.: Mary Norwood says she's not conceding the race. "We have not gotten enough good information from the county itself."

10:55 p.m.: Fulton County's election site says it has 100 percent of precincts reporting:  Kasim Reed has 50.78 percent and Norwood has 49.22 percent.

10:51 p.m.: Fewer than 2,000 votes separate Mary Norwood and Kasim Reed.

10:46 p.m.: With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Donzella James won Senate District 35, Kasim Reed's old seat, over Torrey Johnson. See results.

10:43 p.m.: Reed making his first appearance at the Hyatt: "We're watching the returns closely."

10:42 p.m. Mary Norwood lost ground in DeKalb. She won the county in November by more than 600 votes, and won it this time by just more than 100.

10:24 p.m.: All DeKalb precincts are counted and it went for Mary Norwood for mayor by less than 100 votes. All eyes on Fulton now. Read more.

10:14 p.m.: With 11 of 12 precincts reporting, Simone Bell leads Asha Jackson for State House District 58 by more than 200 votes.

10:05 p.m.: With 98 precincts reporting, Kasim Reed has 21,122 votes and Mary Norwood has 18,727.

9:48 p.m.: Fresh photos of Mary Norwood at The Varsity.

9:41 p.m.: In November, College Park City Council candidates Charles Phillips and April Wyatt tied with 168 votes. With 100 percent of precincts reporting tonight, Phillips has a 20 vote lead.

9:36 p.m.: Different news outlets are reporting different results in the race for Atlanta mayor. AJC results are coming straight from the Fulton and DeKalb election offices. With 55 of 170 precincts reporting, we've got Kasim Reed ahead of Mary Norwood, 55 percent to 45 percent. See results from the AJC.

9:29 p.m.: Results coming in for Atlanta City Council races. For now, Ceasar Mitchell, Aaron Watson and Alex Wan leading.

9:22 p.m.: In Roswell mayoral election, David Tolleson is within 100 votes of Jere Wood. Advance and absentee voting will be counted tonight, but provisional might not.  Read more.

9:14 p.m.: With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Roswell Mayor Jere Wood has 4,436 votes -- more than David Tolleson's 4,343.

9:08 p.m. E. Culver "Rusty" Kidd wins State House District 141 seat over Darrell Black.

9:06 p.m.: With 11 of 12 precincts reporting, Earnestine Pittman apparently unseated East Point Mayor Joe Macon. Read more.

8:57 p.m.: The race for Roswell mayor is neck and neck between former city councilman David Tolleson and incumbent Mayor Jere Wood. Read more in the Political Insider blog.

8:56 p.m.: Mary Norwood just arrived at The Varsity.

8:52 p.m.: In Doraville, Karen Pachuta won city council seat over Bob Spangler.

8:51 p.m.: First results coming from Fulton County on Atlanta mayor race. See results.

8:46 p.m.: Howard Tygrett wins mayoral race in Clarkston over Pat Davis-Morris.

8:14 p.m.: AJC reporter Eric Stirgus reports back that Kasim Reed's supporters are quietly watching President Barack Obama's speech. No sign of Reed yet. Read more about Obama's speech.

8 p.m.: Polls are closed in Atlanta. People in line at closing time are still able to vote.

7:54 p.m.: Don Haddix elected mayor of Peachtree City with 789 votes over Cyndi Plunkett's 397. See results.

7:39 p.m.: Reported (not actual) turnout  in DeKalb County is higher today than in November. Read more.

7:32 p.m.: An e-mail from Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin's office says they're preparing to assist in the transition of the mayor-elect and that there are formal, written transition plans in place. "Office space at City Hall in the Old City Council Chambers has been designated and modestly equipped for the mayor-elect and his or her transition team."

7:24 p.m. Fulton County election officials say turnout is better than expected. "It might equal the turnout we had in November or if not get very close," said Barry Garner, director of elections.

7 p.m. Polls are closed outside Atlanta. Those in line are able to vote.

6:58 p.m.: To keep an eye on Atlanta elections news tonight, check out the AJC.com homepage, this minute-by-minute feed, reporter Ty Tagami on the Political Insider blog and our @ajcpolitics Twitter account.

6:49 p.m.: Check out photos  of the Election Day activities of Atlanta mayor candidates Mary Norwood and Kasim Reed. We expect to post updated photos after 8 p.m.

6:30 p.m.: Polls outside of Atlanta close in a half-hour. Atlanta polls close at 8 p.m.