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Poll turnout 'lowest in years' Sinn Fein 'likely to top EU poll'
(about 4 hours later)
The first figures for the European election on Thursday indicate the turnout could be about 42%. The NI turnout for the European election on Thursday was 42.81%, nearly 9% down on the election five years ago.
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. Nationalists appear to have turned out in greater numbers than unionists and observers believe Sinn Fein's Bairbre De Brun will top the poll comfortably.
Figures are emerging from the King's Hall in Belfast as the votes are verified ahead of the counting process. The area with the highest turnout was Mid Ulster at nearly 53%. The lowest was Strangford at just over 34%.
Some anecdotal accounts have suggested weaker polling in unionist and working class areas. Election workers checked the papers from 1,600 ballot boxes. The votes will not be counted until Monday.
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "The turnout looks to be the lowest in recent times, probably around 42%." "When the count begins properly on Monday there will be great interest in who will fill the two remaining seats," said BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport.
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."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." "With the SDLP maintaining their vote has held up, the pattern of transferred votes between the parties could prove crucial.
"It looks like Bairbre de Brun is on course to top the poll comfortably with perhaps as much as 28% of the vote."
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%. • East Londonderry 42.34%
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. • Foyle 44.35%
Meanwhile, polling stations in the Republic of Ireland are open for voting in the European, local and by-elections. • Fermanagh/South Tyrone 51.52%
• West Tyrone 50.27%
• Upper Bann 41.81%
• Newry Armagh 49.05%
• North Antrim 43.17%.