Overview
- Polls in both states close at 7 p.m. and county teams immediately began scanning and counting paper and early-vote ballots to produce unofficial tallies for governor, U.S. Senate and down-ballot races.
- Officials emphasize voters must cast at their assigned precincts and show an accepted photo ID, with Florida allowing provisional ballots to be reviewed later by a canvassing board if a voter lacks ID.
- Georgia counties are reporting returns for every state legislative seat and dozens of local referendums including SPLOST, ESPLOST and FLOST tax measures that would fund schools, roads and local projects.
- Results posted overnight remain unofficial until local election boards review and certify totals, a process that can take days as counties continue processing absentee and provisional ballots.
- Heavy early voting that began in mid-October locked in a large share of ballots before Election Day, increasing the likelihood that overnight returns will reflect the final outcome but leaving close races subject to later updates and certification.