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.

The latest Irish Independent/Ireland Thinks poll shows the Independent candidate at 40%, compared to Ms Humphreys on 25%.

Ms Connolly is up eight points from the previous Ireland Thinks poll, where she was on 32%. Ms Humphreys, however, is up only two points, having previously been on 23%.

In Castlerea, Co Roscommon on Thursday, Ms Connolly urged her supporters not to believe the election is a foregone conclusion.

She said: “I would appeal to everyone to come out and vote.

We’re taking absolutely nothing for granted. And to be president of Ireland, it would be an absolute privilege, and I will leave that to the people of Ireland to decide. 

"From day one, the engagement on the ground was fantastic. It has just grown in intensity and numbers. And from day one, people of all ages have come up and engaged with me.”

On the final day of campaigning, Ms Humphreys was in Sligo and Donegal to rally up support, including a fireside chat at the Irish Country Living Women and Agriculture Conference.

“There’s two choices in this election,” Ms Humphreys said. “There’s myself or the other candidate. I know there are three on the ballot paper, but there are only two choices, myself or Catherine.

“What I’m saying to the voters today is, please, first of all, come out. Don’t waste your vote. Don’t allow somebody else to speak for you.

The second thing is, I’m asking people to support me because I represent middle Ireland, pro-European, pro-business and common sense.

“I’m saying it to the good people in Fianna Fáil, good people in the Labour Party who are supporting me, the people in the Green Party who are supporting me, and especially to the Independents across this country who have committed their support for me — please, please come out tomorrow and vote number one for Heather Humphreys.”

The biggest poll drop is for Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race earlier this month. His support more than halved, from 15% to 7%.

The poll also shows 28% of respondents either do not know, will not vote, or plan to spoil their ballot.

When undecided voters are excluded, Ms Connolly’s lead widens further, with 55% saying they will back the Independent candidate, while Ms Humphreys rises to 35%.

The poll, published Thursday, also provides insight into Tuesday’s Prime Time debate.

It found that 67% of those who watched the debate believed Ms Connolly won, compared to 18% who thought Ms Humphreys performed better.

A further 15% of viewers said they did not know who won the debate.