Gingrich Nabs Georgia GOP Primary

Updated: 12:25 a.m. 

More than a third of the Cobb election returns have come in, and Newt Gingrich has renewed his presidential hopes with a decisive victory in his former county.

With 96 percent of Georgia precincts reporting, Gingrich received 47.5 percent.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was second, with 25.7 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was running third 19.6 percent.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul received 6.5 percent of votes. 

In unincorporated Cobb, 69.34 percent voted "yes" for Sunday alcohol sales. 30.66 percent opposing. 

Follow updates at the Cobb Elections website.

Please return to Northeast Cobb Patch Wednesday morning for results and reactions of Tuesday's voting.

Updated 4:45 p.m.

Voting at Northeast Cobb precincts Tuesday morning ranged from light at to moderate at

, according to East Cobb Patch. 

, who represented East Cobb in Congress.

Northeast Cobb Patch will provide more updates on election results and reaction on the primary and the Cobb Sunday alcohol sales referendum all day Tuesday.

How did you vote in the Georgia presidential primary? Did you vote on the Sunday alcohol sales referendum? Tell us in the comments section.

Updated 8:15 a.m.

A gentleman walking to his car after voting at Wesley Chapel said that Gingrich has his vote. "I expect that he'll win Georgia, but not the presidency," he said.

A woman campaigning along Wesley Chapel Rd. for Romney said that the Super Tuesday showdown is between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. "I believe Romney will win," she said.

Romney is the favorite in Northeast Cobb Patch's Sunday poll.

We're seeing strong Romney support from Marietta residents on Twitter:

AntiCipation ‏ @ACollinsByrnes: RT @JimMerrillNH: ENDORSEMENT: Marietta (GA) Daily Journal backs @MittRomney as best pick for GOP.

Jim Merrill ‏ @JimMerrillNH: ENDORSEMENT: Marietta (GA) Daily Journal backs @MittRomney as best pick for GOP. 

Updated Tuesday, 7:50 a.m.

Election staff at the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Northeast Cobb say that voter turnout has been slow and steady this morning.

Resident Nancy Gibson told Northeast Cobb Patch that her inspiration for voting in the primary is due to President Obama's failure to lead our country properly and she believes that alcohol sales should be allowed on Sunday.

Original Report

Northeast Cobb voters go to the polls today to help pick a presidential candidate and decide whether unincorporated Cobb County .

People can decide at the polling place whether to cast a Republican ballot, including nine candidates for president; a Democratic ballot, with just President Barack Obama as an option; or a nonpartisan ballot, which lacks the presidential candidates but, like the others, has the alcohol measure.

Check back with Northeast Cobb Patch throughout the day for election news and results. For a statewide, Patch-level view of the presidential race, follow our live blog of the action at the polls.

In Cobb County during early voting, 11,205 people voted in the Republican primary, 883 people voted in the Democratic primary, and 91 people cast nonpartisan ballots. As of Friday these folks had cast absentee votes: 2,886 Republicans, 253 Democrats and 18 nonpartisan.

All told, that's 15,336 ballot cast early.

In presidential primaries on Election Day, there is usually a turnout in the low 30 percent range, said Janine Eveler, Cobb County's elections director.

Twenty polling places in Northeast Cobb will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. as voters choose among the GOP presidential candidates.

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According to our Sunday poll, Mitt Romney is the Northeast Cobb favorite. It's not too late to cast your vote in our poll.

What has inspired you to vote in this election? Do you support the Sunday alcohol sales? Share your opinion by leaving a comment below.