North Atlanta Today: Early Voting Surges Ahead of Tuesday’s Election

Gwinnett’s early ballot count rose by more than a quarter from the comparable point before the 2022 midterm, leading the increase across five counties serving North Atlanta as voters prepare for Tuesday’s election.

Sunday, November 1, 2026. Reporting cutoff: 11:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The early vote, and what comes next

Our county-by-county election report counted 976,459 early ballots across Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee and Forsyth in Georgia Votes’ October 31 morning update. Gwinnett recorded 237,456, up 25.4% from the same number of days before the 2022 election. Fulton had the largest total, at 339,024.

These are unofficial countywide participation figures, including communities beyond North Atlanta. They measure ballots cast, not candidate preferences, and higher early participation does not establish what final turnout will be.

For Tuesday, November 3, polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must use their assigned Election Day location, which can differ from an early-voting site. Check it on My Voter Page; anyone in line before 7 p.m. may vote.

McGinnis Ferry moves into the next stage

Crews have completed half the new Caney Creek culvert and shifted traffic to build the other half, according to Johns Creek’s October 30 update. The crossing is part of the McGinnis Ferry widening between Douglas Road and Hospital Parkway, where two lanes will become four.

Utility relocations, retaining walls and road-base work continue, with completion expected in 2028. Our construction report explains what has changed. This is a recap of the October 30 construction update, not a live traffic report; it does not establish current delays or lane conditions.

A mother-daughter opening in Duluth

Annette and Melissa Mitchell begin introductory classes Monday, November 2, at The Little Gym of Duluth, ahead of a November 14 grand opening. Annette is a former Swedish national-team gymnast; Melissa danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet.

The center at 3176 Main Street, Suite 400, serves children from 4 months through age 12. Its focus is developmental movement and gymnastics rather than competitive training. Read the story behind the mother-daughter business, including how enrolling Melissa’s daughter in a class helped bring their plans together.

Seven cities, different employment trends

September unemployment ranged from 2.5% in Brookhaven to 3.3% in Johns Creek across seven cities in our new local comparison. All seven had more employed residents than a year earlier.

In Johns Creek, the labor force grew faster than employment, pushing the unemployment rate higher despite the increase in working residents. The preliminary figures count residents wherever they work. They are not seasonally adjusted, and small monthly movements should not be read as a lasting hiring trend.

A closer look at where graduates enrolled

Kennesaw State was the leading Georgia college destination at 11 of the 24 high schools in our Class of 2024 enrollment analysis. Georgia State led at six more. UGA led at Lambert, South Forsyth and Dunwoody, while the University of North Georgia led at four Forsyth schools.

The school-by-school tables describe enrollment in the first year after graduation, not admissions offers or a ranking of school quality. At North Gwinnett, the two leading Georgia destinations were separated by one student: 91 enrolled at Georgia State and 90 at Kennesaw State.

Before Tuesday

Domestic absentee voters need their completed ballot to reach their county elections office by 7 p.m. November 3. A postmark alone is insufficient. The secretary of state’s deadline reminder permits hand delivery to the county elections office; early-voting drop boxes are no longer available. Military and overseas voters have separate rules.