ARAS18: Live polling day updates from the local vote centres

 

 

There has been a very slow start to voting in the presidential election and the referendum on whether or not to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Constitution. Some political observers are estimating we might struggle to get an overall 40% turnout by the time the polls close this evening at 10pm.

Early morning turnout has been low in a lot of constituencies including Meath with an average 4% turnout reported across three centre in Ashbourne, Navan and Kells

More than 3.2 million people are eligible to cast their ballots in the election and referendum. Voters will receive two ballot papers at polling stations, which opened at 7am.

A white ballot paper will be given to voters for the Presidential Election with the six candidates listed in alphabetical order. Voters will be able to list their first and subsequent choices on the ballot paper.

Voters will also receive a green ballot paper for the referendum on blasphemy.

There are six candidates for the Presidential Election - incumbent Michael D Higgins, Seán Gallagher, Liadh Ní Riada, Joan Freeman, Peter Casey and Gavin Duffy.

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10am Turnout so far this morning in Meath count centre in the Presidentrial and Blasphemy Referendum votes is reported as "very slow". St Mary's, Ashbourne 3%; St Colmcille's, Kells, 4.5%; St Oliver's NS, Navan 4%

10.30am Friday, 26 October: Gavin Duffy will be voting at White Cross National School, Julianstown, Co Meath (constituency of Louth).

 

 

 

 

11 am  Ashbournes's Rory O' Connor of Rory's Stories fame shows his support for Senator Joan Freeman