'Above-average' turnout reported in Assembly vote

The North’s politicians were tonight reporting an above-average turnout at the polls even before the traditional surge of voters in the Assembly Election.

Despite what was described in some quarters as a lacklustre campaign, constituencies across the North were reporting greater numbers of early voters in polling stations.

However, unionists and nationalists were uncertain whether the good weather or an attempt to beat the rush to the polls before tonight’s Champions League soccer games involving Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic was having a bearing on the higher-than-average turnout.

Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams faced media scrums as they went to cast their votes in an election which could result in the return of power-sharing to the North for the first time in four and a half years.

A Sinn Féin source said: “We are getting a very strong sense that voter turnout has been brisk

across the constituencies.

“We are happy enough. West Belfast and North Belfast are lively, West Tyrone and Mid-Ulster are also flying.

“However, the real story will be told during the peak voting time when people return from work.”

In Fermanagh and South Tyrone, DUP sources said they were content with the turnout.

A party spokesman reported: “In Upper Bann, we were hearing early afternoon that there was a much higher turnout, with one polling station in Portadown standing at almost a quarter of its voters already out.

“There has been a lot of talk about apathy. At this stage, I’m not so sure.”

Ulster Unionist candidate Basil McCrea said turnout in Lagan Valley had been surprisingly brisk from early on.

“We’re happy enough that our voters are coming out to the polling stations,” he said.

“I think it depends on who you talk to when you ask about whether there is apathy out there.

“There still appears to be some voters who have yet to make up their mind. They’re still deciding if they will come out to vote and if they do it will be interesting to see where it goes.”

SDLP candidate Thomas Burns reported a steady flow of people to the polling station.

“I was a bit surprised in Crumlin to see around 18 people queuing to get in when the polling station opened at 7am,” he said.

“Obviously we must wait to see what happens with the traditional evening rush to the polls.”

The North's voters are choosing among 257 candidates in 18 constituencies to decide who will make up the 108-member Assembly. Each constituency will return six members.

Counting will get under way tomorrow in eight centres across the North, with the final seats expected to be filled by Friday evening.