Voting in presidential election gets underway as polls predict landslide for Connolly

Leftwing independent widely expected to succeed Michael D Higgins, but fears grow over low turnout and spoilt ballots

Catherine Connollyand Heather Humphreys have both said that only votes matter, not polls, and are urging supporters to turn out and use their vote. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Voting is now under way to elect a new president, with final opinion polls predicting Catherine Connolly is on course to become Ireland’s 10th president, but her opponent, Heather Humphreys, is not about to go down without a fight.

Both the Independent and Fine Gael candidates said that only votes matter, not polls, when boxes are opened tomorrow morning — both urging supporters to turn out on Friday, as a campaign that sparked into life with rancour and acrimony in the final days came to a close.