Election turnout behind 2011 as nation exercises franchise

A steady turnout was recorded across the country as the nation cast its ballot in the general election.

However, as polling stations closed at 10pm last night it was looking as if turnout was slightly lower than the 69.9% average of 2011.

There was a late surge of voting last night as people made their way home from work and students returned from around the country.

At 8pm, turnout across the capital ranged from highs of 68% in Ballinteer to lows of 43% in Lucan. In Kerry, just half the voters had voted at one Tralee station with less than two hours to go but turnout was 65% in Cahirciveen.

Although turnout was expected to be lower than 2011, some areas experienced significant numbers coming out to vote. Some 81% of eligible people had voted in Ballyforan, Co Offaly, by 9pm last night.

Among the highest turnout in the country was in the Taoiseach’s constituency, where a community campaign in Louisburgh called on all residents to vote.

Here are the turnout figures and what the party leaders are saying https://t.co/LP1MyOyBUz pic.twitter.com/gMPjnVUh3F

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 26, 2016

By 5pm, over 65% of the 930 registered to vote in the west Mayo village had cast their vote in memory of the men and women of 1916. By 9pm, the number had risen to 74%.

Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala voted at St Anthony’s Primary School in Castlebar around 10am.

“This one’s for the future,” Mr Kenny said as he cast his ballot.

A total of 552 candidates put themselves forward across 40 constituencies, many of which had boundary and seat changes since the 2011 elections.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes near his official residence in Dublin’s Phoenix Park yesterday morning.

A Co Monaghan woman was perhaps the eldest person to vote — 103-year-old Molly Loughman voted in the polling station in Castleblayney yesterday.

And in Co Sligo a group of 30 men bound for a stag party did not neglect their constitutional right by turning up at their polling station in Ballymote before heading to Liverpool for the weekend.

Who would win the election if it was based on tweets? https://t.co/E6oiKgjwBp (DOD) #GE16 pic.twitter.com/pDmkwI6ges

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 26, 2016

Tánaiste Joan Burton, who is expected to be battling for the final seat in Dublin West, was unable to vote for herself yesterday as she lives just across the constituency boundary. She turned up with Labour party colleague Joe Costello at a polling station in Dublin Central.

In Cork and other parts of the south, wet weather seemed to hamper turnout. Cork South Central has seen a reduction of one seat, while there have been significant boundary changes in Cork North Central, meaning prominent names may lose a seat in both areas.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin turned out to vote in Cork South Central with his two children early yesterday. He should be confident of re-election.

However, the Labour Party could be facing a wipeout in the two Cork City constituencies, as sitting TDs Kathleen Lynch and Ciarán Lynch are expected to be fighting to retain their seats.

Although the vast majority of the 3.2m voters voted yesterday others had done so in advance. Around 2,000 people in Donegal, Mayo, and Galway islands voted earlier in the week.

Defence Forces members, deployed in 15 countries, cast their ballots a fortnight ago.

Soldiers voted in the Zone of Separation in The Golan Heights while members of the navy voted aboard the Lé Róisín and the Lé James Joyce in Irish territorial waters.

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