The polls are nearing closing time in some of the first states on election night, with varying situations affecting voting hours and processes. In North Carolina, two precincts will now close at 8 p.m. ET, providing an extra half hour of voting due to technical issues earlier in the day. Similarly, in Georgia, two election precincts in Gwinnett County will remain open until 7:58 p.m. ET after a threat forced a brief closure, while two polling places in Cobb County have been permitted to stay open until 7:20 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro anticipates a quicker vote count compared to 2020. In Lancaster County, over 50% of the approximately 64,000 mail-in ballots have been opened and scanned, with all mail-in ballots expected to be counted by midnight. In Michigan, Detroit aims to complete vote counting by midnight, with a more detailed update from state officials expected around 9 p.m. ET.
Wisconsin's Milwaukee will re-tabulate around 30,000 absentee ballots as a precautionary measure after discovering issues with tabulating machine doors. In Arizona, Maricopa County plans to release the first 1.1 million to 1.2 million ballots at approximately 10 p.m. ET, an hour after polls close. This initial count will only include votes through October 29, with further updates expected.
