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Counting begins in Northern Ireland assembly election | Counting begins in Northern Ireland assembly election |
(35 minutes later) | |
Counting is under way in Northern Ireland's assembly election. | Counting is under way in Northern Ireland's assembly election. |
Thursday marked the second time the electorate went to the polls to choose a government in the space of 10 months. | Thursday marked the second time the electorate went to the polls to choose a government in the space of 10 months. |
The snap election was called after the resignation of former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness over a botched heating scheme debacle. | The snap election was called after the resignation of former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness over a botched heating scheme debacle. |
Official turnout figures won't be clear until later, but all the indications are that voting was brisk - well up on the 55% who voted in May last year. | Official turnout figures won't be clear until later, but all the indications are that voting was brisk - well up on the 55% who voted in May last year. |
A total of 1,254,709 people were eligible to vote for 228 candidates competing for 90 seats in 18 constituencies. | A total of 1,254,709 people were eligible to vote for 228 candidates competing for 90 seats in 18 constituencies. |
The first declarations are expected around lunchtime on Friday, with the final make-up of the new 90-seat Assembly unlikely to be clear until Saturday afternoon. | The first declarations are expected around lunchtime on Friday, with the final make-up of the new 90-seat Assembly unlikely to be clear until Saturday afternoon. |
Polling stations closed at 22:00 GMT on Thursday and ballot boxes were moved to eight counting centres across Northern Ireland. | Polling stations closed at 22:00 GMT on Thursday and ballot boxes were moved to eight counting centres across Northern Ireland. |
Before counting begins in earnest, votes have to be verified - essentially checking the numbers in the boxes match the number of ballot papers given out. | Before counting begins in earnest, votes have to be verified - essentially checking the numbers in the boxes match the number of ballot papers given out. |
Notices posted up at the entrance to polling stations an hour before the close of polls showed nearly 80% turnout in the Sinn Féin leader Michelle O' Neill's home patch in Mid Ulster and more than 75% in the DUP leader Arlene Foster's district of Fermanagh South Tyrone. | Notices posted up at the entrance to polling stations an hour before the close of polls showed nearly 80% turnout in the Sinn Féin leader Michelle O' Neill's home patch in Mid Ulster and more than 75% in the DUP leader Arlene Foster's district of Fermanagh South Tyrone. |
Other areas were lower, but often in the high 50 or 60% range. | Other areas were lower, but often in the high 50 or 60% range. |
By the weekend we should have 90 new MLAs, but before then there will be lots of drama as political careers hang in the balance. | By the weekend we should have 90 new MLAs, but before then there will be lots of drama as political careers hang in the balance. |
And as soon as the dust settles the Northern Ireland Office will want the politicians to focus on urgent negotiations to try to chart a way forward. | And as soon as the dust settles the Northern Ireland Office will want the politicians to focus on urgent negotiations to try to chart a way forward. |
The snap election was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Arlene Foster's DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness. | The snap election was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Arlene Foster's DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness. |
Mr McGuinness resigned over Mrs Foster's refusal to step aside as first minister pending an inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland tax payer £490m. | Mr McGuinness resigned over Mrs Foster's refusal to step aside as first minister pending an inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland tax payer £490m. |
Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the government must be run by Irish nationalists and unionists together. | Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, the government must be run by Irish nationalists and unionists together. |
This assembly election saw one significant change: The number of assembly members has been reduced from 108 to 90 which will mean each constituency returning five MLAs each and not six as was the case beforehand. | This assembly election saw one significant change: The number of assembly members has been reduced from 108 to 90 which will mean each constituency returning five MLAs each and not six as was the case beforehand. |
The number of MLAs has been cut in order to reduce the cost of politics. | The number of MLAs has been cut in order to reduce the cost of politics. |
Forty-eight fewer candidates stood in this election than in May last year. | Forty-eight fewer candidates stood in this election than in May last year. |
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the higher turnout was significant. | Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the higher turnout was significant. |
"That shows that people are engaged, that they see this election as important," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. | "That shows that people are engaged, that they see this election as important," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. |
"There were many punters who thought a lot of people would stay at home, but clearly people thought this was an important election and they had to come out." | "There were many punters who thought a lot of people would stay at home, but clearly people thought this was an important election and they had to come out." |
The SDLP's South Belfast candidate Claire Hanna said there had been more energy around polling stations, despite "awful" weather later on Thursday. | The SDLP's South Belfast candidate Claire Hanna said there had been more energy around polling stations, despite "awful" weather later on Thursday. |
"That does, historically, tend to favour the centre ground," she said. | "That does, historically, tend to favour the centre ground," she said. |
"There was at least a whiff of change in the air yesterday... If the centre ground starts strengthening again it will give people a bit of hope." | "There was at least a whiff of change in the air yesterday... If the centre ground starts strengthening again it will give people a bit of hope." |
Speaking to the BBC's The View on Thursday night, former DUP MLA David McIlveen, who lost his seat in May 2016, said this election was "the last-chance saloon" for the DUP. | |
Mr McIlveen delivered stinging criticism of the two main unionist leaders, Arlene Foster and Mike Nesbitt, saying they had "as much charisma in a bit of tofu" - and even suggested Mrs Foster may no longer be the DUP leader on Monday. | |
Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly use a form of proportional representation called the Single Transferable Vote (STV), in which voters rank candidates by numerical preference. | Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly use a form of proportional representation called the Single Transferable Vote (STV), in which voters rank candidates by numerical preference. |
Candidates are then elected according to the share of the vote they receive. | Candidates are then elected according to the share of the vote they receive. |
The BBC News NI website will carry the latest election results and analysis on Friday and throughout the weekend. | The BBC News NI website will carry the latest election results and analysis on Friday and throughout the weekend. |
There will also be special election programmes running on BBC Radio Ulster from midday, on BBC Radio Foyle from 15:00 GMT and on BBC One Northern Ireland at 13:30 GMT. | There will also be special election programmes running on BBC Radio Ulster from midday, on BBC Radio Foyle from 15:00 GMT and on BBC One Northern Ireland at 13:30 GMT. |