Trump is ahead by less than 1% in Georgia after 98% of the votes are counted and the result is expected to be called later this morning
- Donald Trump holds a lead of around 28,500 votes in the southern state
- But 90,735 mail ballots in Atlanta still need to be counted
- One count in the city was delayed for four hours because of a burst pipe
- Election officials say a result is not expected to come until Thursday
Officials in Georgia said on Wednesday night that they could still be counting ballots into Thursday morning, as workers continue to tally thousands of mail ballots.
Donald Trump held a narrow lead of 28,521 votes over Joe Biden on Wednesday night, just before midnight, with 98 per cent counted, according to Associated Press.
The president leads his Democrat challenger by 49.7 per cent to 49.1 per cent.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he was pushing counties to complete vote tallies by the end of Wednesday.
He said that, as of 10:15pm on Wednesday, there are approximately 90,735 ballots still to count.
An Atlanta television station, WSB-TV 2, reported that elections officials said Georgia will finish counting votes some time overnight, likely by 3am.
The secretary of state’s office told the station that there will not be complete election results until at least Thursday morning.
The state that has not backed a Democrat for president since 1992.
There is no automatic recount, but a candidate can request one if the margin is within 0.5 per cent.
‘Officials in numerous counties are continuing to count ballots, with strong security protocols in place to protect the integrity of our election,’ said Raffensperger on Wednesday night.
‘We have long anticipated – and said publicly – that counting would most likely take place into Wednesday night and perhaps Thursday morning.
‘We’re on pace to accomplish that responsibly, ensuring that the voice of every eligible voter is heard.
‘It’s important to act quickly, but it’s more important to get it right.’
The outstanding vote was primarily in the Atlanta area, which tends to lean Democratic.
On Wednesday, about 50 people were counting votes inside State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.
Extra workers arrived at 10pm, bringing in more tables for the count.
Counties have until 5pm on Nov. 13 to certify results.
At stake in Georgia are 16 electoral votes. All absentee ballots were due on Tuesday.
The counting of up to 60,000 ballots in Atlanta was also delayed for two hours on Tuesday due to a burst pipe in the room where they were being kept.
The leak took place early on Tuesday morning at State Farm Arena.
The counting of absentee ballots in Atlanta had to be paused due to a burst water pipe in the room they were being held in State Farm Arena in the city (pictured)
A poll worker sorts through voting material in Atlanta on election day on Tuesday