North Atlanta Today: Polls Close at 7, but Georgia’s Count Continues

Georgia voters will see the first election results Tuesday night, but the numbers on the screen at 8 or 9 p.m. will be only one stage in a count that continues through certification and a statewide audit.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Reporting cutoff: 12:04 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Weather information was checked at that time.

Polls close tonight; the count continues

Polling places in Fulton, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Early results may appear quickly, but counties report advance, absentee and Election Day votes in batches that can arrive at different times. A changing lead usually means another group of ballots has been added, not that earlier votes disappeared.

The county returns feed the Georgia election-results page. News organizations may project a winner when they conclude that the remaining votes cannot change the outcome, but election officials must still reconcile the totals and certify the returns.

Voters who cast provisional ballots or need to correct a problem with a timely submitted absentee ballot have until 5 p.m. Friday, November 6, to provide the required information. Eligible military and overseas ballots sent by Election Day also may arrive through Friday. Counties must certify their returns by 5 p.m. Monday, November 9, with a statewide risk-limiting audit scheduled for November 13 through 17.

Our election-night guide explains why results from different counties arrive at different speeds and what remains after the last precinct reports.

Hillrose Market takes shape beside Roswell City Hall

Construction is underway on Hillrose Market, a seven-acre development planned between Hill and Ellis streets in downtown Roswell. The project will add 143 rental apartments, 16 brownstone-style homes for sale and about 75,000 square feet of commercial space.

Six retail buildings will surround a central green, with room for restaurants, shops and service businesses. A trail connection is intended to link the development with surrounding neighborhoods and the Canton Street Historic District. Completion is targeted for the second half of 2027.

The first tenant announcements will be a closer test of the development’s role downtown. Leasing is underway, but no confirmed opening roster has been released. Read the full Hillrose Market report, including the office space and parking plans.

VDL begins hiring for a 120-job expansion

VDL Industries Gainesville has begun recruiting workers for a $77 million expansion in Oakwood, within commuting distance of Buford, Sugar Hill and Suwanee. The semiconductor-equipment manufacturer expects to create about 120 jobs as it enlarges its plant, installs large-scale milling equipment and expands its cleanroom.

The positions will arrive in phases as the project moves toward completion in 2028. Current recruiting spans production, engineering, quality control, purchasing, logistics and management, with recent postings for cleanroom assemblers, machinists, welders and quality engineers. The postings reviewed by NAS did not disclose base pay or closing dates.

Our VDL hiring guide has the qualifications for several current roles and links to nearby welding and precision-machining programs.

Four books can earn two Stripers tickets

Gwinnett elementary schools can now register for the Stripers’ 2027 Hooked on Books program. A participating student who reads four books can receive two free tickets to a designated game next spring.

The program begins January 11, and completed reading materials are due May 21. More than 30,000 students participated in its first year, the team said. Families should ask whether their child’s school plans to join; registration runs through schools rather than individual households. See the school options and reward details.

A Wednesday opening in Hickory Flat

Chicken Salad Chick will open at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 6391 Hickory Flat Highway in Canton. The restaurant has a drive-through and will serve lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

The first 100 eligible guests Wednesday can receive free chicken salad over the next year, with the largest reward reserved for the first person in line. Employees will begin handing out numbers at 8 a.m.; participants must remain in line and have the restaurant’s app downloaded before arrival. Read the opening-day rules and the later giveaways before making the trip.

Rain arrives Wednesday

The National Weather Service forecast issued at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday calls for a partly sunny day in Cumming with a high near 72 and east-wind gusts as high as 20 mph. A slight chance of showers develops after 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday brings a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with three-quarters of an inch to one inch of rain possible in Cumming. The Peachtree City forecast office does not expect widespread severe weather, but brief heavy rain could cause isolated flooding in low-lying or poorly drained places. Read the dated National Weather Service forecast.