Voting steady across Meath

Voting across County Meath steady this morning but is expected to pick up as the day goes on.
The turnout at 12 pm was averaging 8.6 per cent across the county.
Some 147,069 Meath residents are entitled to vote
Since polling opened at 7am voting has been steady.
Polling was strongest in the Ratoath area at 9.4 per cent at 11am, while  nine per cent of the Ashbourne electorate had voted by 12 noon.
By midday, 8.2 per cent had voted in Laytown/Bettystown, eight per cent in Trim and 8.6 per cent in Navan.
A surge of voters is expected over lunchtime and again this evening after tea-time. Voters are asked to bring their polling cards and identification.
The polls are open until 10pm with a total of 77 candidates running for 40 seats on the county council, and 17 running in the elections to the European Parliament. There is also a referendum to vary the constitutional position on divorce.
 A massive count operation will begin tomorrow. Ballot papers for both elections and the referendum will be separated in Trim GAA centre, starting  at 9am tomorrow and when that is complete, the ballot papers in the local elections will be transoported with a garda escort to the Simonstown GAA centre where counting will begin on Sunday morning.