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Counting under way in NI assembly election Counting under way in NI 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, which are are beginning to emerge, indicate that voting was brisk - well up on the 55% who voted in May last year. Official figures indicate turnout was high - well up on the 55% who voted last May, and by as much as 10 percentage points in some areas.
The turnout was up across the board - by more than 10% some constituencies:
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 turnout was up across the board:
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. The high turnout is evidence that people were engaged by this campaign, but it is unclear at this stage what drove them - anger over the renewable heating saga, concern over the Irish language act, or the DUP's argument that Sinn Féin's growth might upset the constitutional balance.
Other areas were lower, but often in the high 50 or 60% range. We should start getting some idea of the answers to that question as the votes are counted in the hours to come.
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 Saturday 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.
Opinion polls ahead of the election indicated that the DUP would lose votes but remain the largest party, followed by Sinn Féin.Opinion polls ahead of the election indicated that the DUP would lose votes but remain the largest party, followed by Sinn Féin.
An online exit poll by Lucid Talk found that turnout appeared to be 2-3 percent higher among nationalist voters compared to the 2016 election, while turnout for unionist voters was unchanged.An online exit poll by Lucid Talk found that turnout appeared to be 2-3 percent higher among nationalist voters compared to the 2016 election, while turnout for unionist voters was unchanged.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland DUP MP Gregory Campbell outlined the changes in this election that could make it harder to predict the outcome.
"I think the one big issue that is causing people difficulties in terms of projecting what final outcomes might be is the reduction from six to five in terms of seats per constituency," he said.
"Everyone has said that the fifth seat in every constituency is going to be exceptionally close to call."
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.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.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 largest unionist and nationalist parties after the election will have three weeks to form a power-sharing government to avoid devolved power returning to the British parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.The largest unionist and nationalist parties after the election will have three weeks to form a power-sharing government to avoid devolved power returning to the British parliament at Westminster for the first time in a decade.
While no one predicts the impasse will bring a return to the violence that killed 3,600 people in the three decades before a 1998 peace agreement, some are warning of a deterioration in community relations coupled with government paralysis as Brexit talks determine the province's political and economic future.While no one predicts the impasse will bring a return to the violence that killed 3,600 people in the three decades before a 1998 peace agreement, some are warning of a deterioration in community relations coupled with government paralysis as Brexit talks determine the province's political and economic future.
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.