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Voting 'is slow' in Euro election Polls close in European election
(about 4 hours later)
Voting in the European elections, which continues until 2200 BST, is slow, according to the Electoral Office. Voting in the European elections has closed. Seven candidates were competing for Northern Ireland's three MEP seats.
Seven candidates are competing for Northern Ireland's three MEP seats. Turnout throughout Thursday was slow, according to the Electoral Office.
They are the TUV's Jim Allister, the Green's Stephen Agnew, Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun, the DUP's Diane Dodds, and the SDLP's Alban Maginness. However, BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said nationalists and unionists were reporting a steady turnout in rural areas.
Also standing are the Conservative and Ulster Unionists' Jim Nicholson and Alliance's Ian Parsley. Results will not be announced until Monday. Counting will not begin until Monday morning, with the results expected by mid afternoon.
BBC Northern Ireland's political editor Mark Devenport said nationalists and unionists were reporting a steady turnout in rural areas. Figures were posted in individual polling stations at noon showing how many people had voted so far, but the statistics aren't being collected centrally.
Electoral Office sources describe the morning as fairly quiet, in line with previous elections.
IN PICTURES Candidates vote in the EU elections
Figures were posted up in individual polling stations at noon showing how many people had voted so far, but the statistics aren't being collected centrally.
SystemSystem
The European election uses the proportional representation.The European election uses the proportional representation.
IN PICTURES Candidates vote in the EU elections
"Voters here are well used to proportional representation - nevertheless more than 5,500 people spoiled their votes in the last European election by putting Xs on their ballot paper," said Mark Devenport."Voters here are well used to proportional representation - nevertheless more than 5,500 people spoiled their votes in the last European election by putting Xs on their ballot paper," said Mark Devenport.
"So it's worth remembering that today you should mark the paper with a 1, 2, 3 and so on for as many candidates as you choose.
"Turnout tends to be lower in European elections than Westminster and Assembly polls - one innovation this time is that polling stations will display the number of voters who have turned out at noon, five and nine o'clock."
Registered voters must present one of the following to poll staff before they can be issued with a ballot paper - a polling card is not required:
• A UK, Irish or EU passport
• A photographic Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence
• A Translink Senior SmartPass
• An electoral identity card
• A Trankslink 60+ SmartPass
• A Translink War Disabled Smartpass
• A Trankslink Blind Person's Smartpass
Voting in other European Union member states takes place on different days - polling in the Irish Republic, for example, is on Friday.Voting in other European Union member states takes place on different days - polling in the Irish Republic, for example, is on Friday.
However, voting on 19 islands off the west coast of Ireland is taking place on Thursday morning. However, voting on 19 islands off the west coast of Ireland took place on Thursday morning.
Almost 2,600 people on the islands off the coasts of Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork will vote ahead of the rest of the country. Almost 2,600 people on the islands off the coasts of Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork voted ahead of the rest of the country.