Forsyth County 2012 General Election Returns, Live

UPDATE: 11:08 p.m.

Forsyth Precincts Partially Reported - Sheriff's Race: Piper - 62,405 and Smith 683 write-in votes

UPDATE: 10:09 p.m.

Results are not FINAL in Sheriff's Race - but as it stands DT Smith has 683 write-in votes and Duane Piper has 58,099 votes - they are still counting the absentee ballots -

UPDATE: 9:42 p.m.

Constitutional Amendment #1 (Charter School): Yes - 48,318 and No - 25,128

Constitutional Amendment #2 (Multi-year Rental Agreements): Yes - 49,782 and No - 20,650

UPDATE: 9:29 p.m.

We are still waiting on the absentee ballots -

Sheriff Race: Piper 58,099 and Smith (write-in candidate) number not available until later in the night per Barbara Luth, Elections Supervisor

President: Romney 61,473 – Obama 13,432 – Johnson 1,118

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.

U.S. Representative, District 9: Collins 5,536 and Cooley 1,094

U.S. Representative, District 7: Woodall 11,498 and Reilly 3,341

UPDATE: 9:05 p.m.

Constitutional Amendment #1 (Charter School): Yes - 13,947 and No - 7,950

Constitutional Amendment #2 (Multi-year Rental Agreements): Yes - 14,570 and No -6,350

UPDATE: 9:02 p.m.

Sheriff Race: Piper 17,383 and Smith (write-in candidate) number not available until later in the night per Barbara Luth, Elections Supervisor

President: Romney 17,489 – Obama 4,608 – Johnson 519

UPDATE: 8:38 p.m.

Sheriff Race: Piper 4,610 and Smith (write-in candidate) number not available until later in the night per Barbara Luth, Elections Supervisor

President: Romney 4,605 – Obama 1,384 – Johnson 143

U.S. Representative, District 9: Collins 1,432 and Cooley 313

U.S. Representative, District 7: Woodall 3,063 and Reilly 1,004

Constitutional Amendment #1 (Charter School): Yes - 3,663 and No - 2,292

Constitutional Amendment #2 (Multi-year Rental Agreements): Yes - 3,904 and No - 1,777

UPDATE: 8:29 p.m. - early numbers

Sheriff Race: Piper 783 and Smith (write-in candidate) number not available until later in the night per Barbara Luth, Elections Supervisor

President: Romney 834 – Obama 177 – Johnson 19

U.S. Representative, District 9: Collins 805 and Cooley 170

Constitutional Amendment #1 (Charter School): Yes - 605 and No - 400

Constitutional Amendment #2 (Multi-year Rental Agreements): Yes - 637 and No - 312 

UPDATE: 7:40 p.m. - Greetings Patchers!

The 2012 General Election is finally here and now that polls in Forsyth County have officially closed - it's time to sit back and patiently wait for the results to come in from the 25 reporting precincts.

I'll have the results of how you voted for President, Sheriff, U.S. Representative in the 9th and 7th districts and the fate of the Charter School Amendment.

Who will emerge as the victor? We will know soon enough, which brings me to where I am situated for the next several hours.

I am live from the Forsyth County Administration building in downtown Cumming. Around me are poll workers and staff members with the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Department. They will be counting the votes as they come in so be sure to check the updates above for the latest results.

Liz Kennedy
Editor, Cumming Patch

UPDATE: 5:08 p.m. - Polls open for two more hours - have you voted yet? As of 1 p.m. the Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Department reports 17,710 people have so far voted today. Keep mind that 48,431 people voted early.

UPDATE: 2:14 p.m. - we've been out and about and so far voters are waiting no more than 5 minutes at Sharon Springs precinct. If you head out bundle up it's quite nippy today - new photos attached to this article.

UPDATE: 10:14 a.m. - There are a total of 114,957 registered voters in Forsyth County per Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections.

Editor's Note: This page will be updated throughout the day and night.

It's Election Day, and voters across the nation head to the polls to decide who they want for president.

Here in Forsyth County, voters will also be deciding who they want as their next Sheriff, Georgia Public Service Commissioner, U.S. Representatives in two districts and the fate of two amendments.

Join Cumming Patch today and tonight for live blogs on national, state and local returns.

The big local race is the Forsyth County Sheriff's race:

Challenger Duane Piper narrowly defeated incumbent Sheriff Ted Paxton during a runoff election on Aug. 21. Now Piper faces write-in candidate DT Smith, a lieutenant colonel with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, in today's General Election.

• Read more about the candidates here: Sheriff's Candidates Express Confidence in Tuesday's Outcome

The state race affecting Forsyth County includes U.S. Representatives:

• Doug Collins who won the majority vote during a runoff election on Aug. 21 will represent Republicans in the U.S. House from the 9th district, which includes the northern part of Forsyth County. Collins faces Democrat Jody Cooley today, Nov. 6.

• Republican incumbent Rob Woodall and his opponent Democrat Steve Reilly are vying for the District 7 seat, which includes the southern half of Forsyth.

Stay updated on the national and state races and what's happening around the metro area here:

• Georgia Votes: Join our Live Blog as Voters Hit the Polls

• Read more about the Charter School Amendment here: Do You know How Your Vote Will Impact the Georgia Charter Schools Amendment?

And if you're not sure where to vote? Check your polling place here. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-the-minute election results.

You might also be interested in reading:

Where Do I Vote In Forsyth County?

Take This Quiz: Does Obama or Romney Best Match Your Stance?

Will We Be Better Off Because of This Election?