This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8084519.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Poll turnout 'lowest in years' | Poll turnout 'lowest in years' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The first figures for the European election on Thursday indicate the turnout could be about 42%. | The first figures for the European election on Thursday indicate the turnout could be about 42%. |
| Initial tallies point to a drop in the numbers voting in the last Euro poll - which was 51.72% - this year's figures are as low as 34% in some areas. | Initial tallies point to a drop in the numbers voting in the last Euro poll - which was 51.72% - this year's figures are as low as 34% in some areas. |
| Figures are emerging from the King's Hall in Belfast as the votes are verified ahead of the counting process. | Figures are emerging from the King's Hall in Belfast as the votes are verified ahead of the counting process. |
| Some anecdotal accounts have suggested weaker polling in unionist and working class areas. | Some anecdotal accounts have suggested weaker polling in unionist and working class areas. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "The turnout looks to be the lowest in recent times, probably around 42%." | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "The turnout looks to be the lowest in recent times, probably around 42%." |
| He said Sinn Fein are on course to take the first seat. | |
| "It looks like the Sinn Fein candidate, Bairbre de Brun is on course to top the poll comfortably with perhaps as much as 28% of the vote. | |
| "The three unionist candidates appear to be tightly packed, which means the Traditional Unionist Jim Allister must have taken a significant percentage of the DUP vote. | |
| "So far the Conservatives and Unionists appear to be optimistic that Jim Nicholson's vote has held up, but with such a tight field it's impossible to say at this stage how the count will pan out so far as the last two seats are concerned." | |
| The verification process suggests the following turnouts: | The verification process suggests the following turnouts: |
| • Lagan Valley 38.86% | • Lagan Valley 38.86% |
| • South Belfast 42.1 % | • South Belfast 42.1 % |
| • East Belfast 38.82% | • East Belfast 38.82% |
| • North Belfast 40.98% | • North Belfast 40.98% |
| • West Belfast 46.6 % | • West Belfast 46.6 % |
| • South Down 44.97% | • South Down 44.97% |
| • North Down 34.48% | • North Down 34.48% |
| • Mid Ulster 52.83%. | • Mid Ulster 52.83%. |
| • Newry and Armagh 43.7% | • Newry and Armagh 43.7% |
| • East Antrim 34.53% | • East Antrim 34.53% |
| • South Antrim 38.03% | • South Antrim 38.03% |
| • Strangford 34.24% | • Strangford 34.24% |
| Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay said he had been told the North Antrim turnout is 43.17%. | Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay said he had been told the North Antrim turnout is 43.17%. |
| The seven candidates will not know their fate until Monday as the count is being delayed until after all the European union member states have completed their voting. | |
| Meanwhile, polling stations in the Republic of Ireland are open for voting in the European, local and by-elections. | Meanwhile, polling stations in the Republic of Ireland are open for voting in the European, local and by-elections. |