Voter Turnout Declines in Irish General Election
Dublin: The Irish general election witnessed a decrease in voter turnout across Dublin and nationwide, according to polling figures. By 9 p.m., only 50% of the electorate had cast their votes across the country. Ireland’s 43 constituencies encompass over 3.6 million registered voters, who are electing 174 TDs from a field of more than 680 candidates.
Turnout Figures and Trends
Vote counting is set to begin at 9 a.m. today, with RTÉ Radio starting its live coverage and discussions at 8 a.m., continuing through Monday. Initial reports highlight that turnout levels have dipped significantly compared to previous elections:
National Turnout: Dropped from 60.4% in the last election to 56.35%.
Dublin County Turnout: Declined from 64% in 2020 to 56.2%.
Dublin City Turnout: Decreased from 56.5% in 2020 to 53.95%.
Key Constituency Turnout Highlights
Dublin Bay North: Highest turnout in the city at 62.77% (2020: 64.5%).
Dublin Bay South: Lowest turnout in the city at 47.7% (2020: 52.1%).
Dublin Central: Increased turnout at 59% (2020: 51.2%) – the only area in Dublin City to record an increase.
Dublin South Central: Turnout fell to 49.3% (2020: 55.1%).
Suburban Trends in Dublin County
Mount Merrion (South Dublin): Highest turnout at 70.2%.
Portmarnock (Fingal): 68% turnout.
Adamstown (South Dublin): Lowest turnout at 28.8%.
Jobstown (South Dublin): 39% turnout.
Exit Poll Insights
Exit polls, conducted by RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4, and Trinity College Dublin, suggest a tight race for first preference votes between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, with each securing approximately 21%. Fianna Fáil trails at 19.5%, though the three parties are separated by only a 1.6% margin.
Early indications also reveal that:
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are leading in second-preference votes, each projected to secure 20%, compared to Sinn Féin’s 17%.
Smaller parties and independents are making modest gains, with Labour at 5%, Social Democrats at 5.8%, and Aontú at 3.6%.
Party Leaders Cast Their Votes
Party leaders were among the early voters:
Simon Harris (Fine Gael): Voted at Delgany National School in Wicklow.
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil): Cast his vote at St. Anthony’s Boys National School in Ballinlough, Cork, accompanied by his family.
Ivana Bacik (Labour): Voted at Youthreach in Pleasant Street, Dublin.
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin): Voted at Deaf Village Ireland on Navan Road, Dublin.
Roderic O’Gorman (Green Party): Cast his vote in Blanchardstown.
Joan Collins (Right to Change): Voted in Inchicore, Dublin.
Michael Collins (Independent Ireland): Cast his vote in Schull, Cork.
The counting process will begin this morning, with early trends expected by evening.
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