Georgia Election Day 2026: Live updates, voting and election results

Georgia’s Election Day turnout is picking up in the final stretch, with state officials reporting shortly before polls closed that roughly 1.3 million ballots were cast, according to state officials.

That puts turnout closer to the 1.4 million threshold some Republican strategists have identified as a key benchmark for overcoming Democrats’ apparent early voting edge.

Polls close at 7 p.m. in Georgia. 

A reminder: If you’re in line when the polls close, stay in line. You still have the right to vote.

Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ election night party doesn't start until 7 p.m..

But attendees crowded into the swanky lobby of the Marriott Marquis early.

Supporters formed lines that ran along the edges of the entrance.

The former Atlanta mayor is seeking to become the nation's first Black woman governor.

Election night watch parties can be slow to fill up. Not Rick Jackson’s.

Hundreds of supporters are already gathered at the Republican’s election night bash in Sandy Springs, where a private reception is underway and a line of attendees for his party stretches out the door.

The bar is ready, food is plentiful outside and the crowd is gathering to watch the first returns in one of Georgia’s most closely watched races for governor.

Georgia’s Election Day turnout is picking up in the final stretch.

State election officials say roughly 1.2 million Georgians have now cast ballots Tuesday, with about an hour left before polls close at 7 p.m.

An additional 2.8 million people have already cast early ballots. 

So far, it's been a smooth Election Day in Georgia. That could lead to quick ballot counting Tuesday evening.

State Election Director Blake Evans said just two of the more than 2,100 polling places across Georgia will be required to stay open past 7 p.m. That's a lower number than in most previous elections.

A judge ordered a polling location at Rockbridge Elementary in Norcross to stay open seven extra minutes because a school safety drill interrupted voting. And in Mitchell County, one voting location will close 10 minutes later because it didn't open on time Tuesday morning.

"It's a very positive sign that we have seen very few delays," Evans said during a briefing at the state's election operations center. "That does lend itself to very quick results after the polls close."

Under Georgia law, all early votes and absentee ballots received by Monday must be reported by 8 p.m., or within one hour after the last polling place closes. 

Then results will show up soon afterward on the secretary of state's website before Election Day results begin to pour in.

DeKalb and Gwinnett counties account for roughly 15% of Georgia’s reported Election Day turnout so far. And that’s without numbers from three other core metro Atlanta counties.

Fulton, Cobb and Clayton have yet to report their Election Day turnout, meaning the five core metro counties could account for at least a quarter of Tuesday’s ballots once those figures are included.

That’s a crucial piece of the turnout puzzle, particularly as Republicans count on a strong Election Day showing to overcome Democrats’ apparent early voting advantage. The question isn’t just how many Georgians are voting, but where they are coming from.

About 1 million Georgians have now cast ballots on Election Day, when Republicans are counting on a strong showing to make up ground after record early voting.

With a little more than two hours until polls close, turnout would need to climb by another 400,000 votes to reach the 1.4 million mark that some GOP strategists have identified as a key benchmark.

That would require a substantial late surge, though much is still up in the air about today’s electorate.

An AJC poll showed the Georgia governors race was still in a dead heat just ahead of the election, but odds in two major online betting platforms tell a different tale.

The odds listed on Kalshi and Polymarket on Tuesday afternoon have Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms at just over 70% to win, with Rick Jackson at just below 30%. Both betting sites also list similar odds for the overall balance of power in Congress, at a little more than 70% for Democrats.

Famed Atlanta rapper Offset apparently stands to win a nearly $7,000 payout if the next governor of Georgia is the first Black woman to hold the job, according to a social media post by Kalshi. 

 A Gwinnett County judge gave election officials the green light to keep one polling location open a few minutes longer after an interruption stalled operations earlier Tuesday.

Voting at Rockbridge Elementary School in Norcross will be extended to 7:07 p.m. to make up for the time that was lost.

The location paused voting for 7 minutes due to a safety drill happening during school hours, the county previously said. The Board of Registrations and Elections petitioned the judge to extend polling hours for that amount of time.

Voters who are in line before 7 p.m. will be able to cast their ballots as normal, according to the Superior Court order. Voters who arrive after 7 p.m. but are in line before the location closes at 7:07 p.m. will be allowed to vote, but will have to do so with a provisional ballot, the order said.

"Said ballots shall be separated and held apart from other provisional ballots," the order said, adding that this practice is in compliance with state law.