It’s early days, but the latest data from RTE News shows an average of 14% of the Donegal electorate have cast their votes so far in the local and European elections.
In the Gaeltacht regions, 11% turnout is reported in Carraig Airt, 14% in Fánaid, 13% in Doibhlinn Riabhach, 13% in Na Dúnaibh and 13% in Doirí Beaga.
Some 9% of the electorate have voted in Loch an Iúir, 14% in Bun Beag, 10% in Rann na Feirste, 11% in Dobhar, 15% in Doire Chonaire, 10% in Caiseal na gCorr, 13% in Gort a’Choirce and 11% in Cnoc Fola.
Elsewhere, 15% have turned out in Ceathrú Canainn, 14% in Caiseal and 13% in Cill Chartha.
On the islands, 18% have cast their vote on Inis Bó Finne, 20% in Toraigh and 28% in Gabhla.
15% have voted in Cranford and 18% in Milford.
Turnout in Machaire Rabhartaigh is high – 19% at 1pm.
There has been an average turnout of between 7% and 13% in Letterkenny.
Overview
A total of 91 candidates will be hoping that voters across the seven electoral areas will put a tick in their selection box and push them closer to a seat on Donegal County Council.
A total of 37 of those candidates will be successful and will take their place across the electoral areas of Carndonagh, Buncrana, Letterkenny, Glenties, Donegal Town, Stranorlar, Lifford, Letterkenny and Milford.
Polling stations opened at 7am and will not close until 10pm.
Voters will receive two ballot papers when they turn up at polling centres in Donegal, one for the local elections and one for the European elections.
Don’t panic if you still haven’t received a polling card as you can still vote.
Do check the that you are registered on www.checktheregister.ie and then bring some valid ID such as a passport, a driving licence, a student ID card or a public services card.
As well as the local election ballot paper for your area within Donegal, you will receive another very large ballot paper with no less than 27 candidate names on it (and 28 inches long!) for the Midlands North-West as part of the European Elections.
Both should be filled in and placed in the ballot box.
All boxes will be taken to the Aura Leisure Centre overnight tonight and securely stored.
The European and local election voting papers will then be separated on Saturday allowing the tally people from the various parties to get a quick look at how their candidates are doing.
However, once separated, the votes will be put back in the boxes and taken to their respective local count centres where the real counting begins in earnest on Sunday morning.
The European election ballot papers will be taken to Castlebar in Co Mayo also on Saturday for ballots to be counted commencing on Sunday but a final result is not expected there for a number of days.
So all you have to do now is to exercise your right to vote.
We all have the democratic right to elect who we want to see on our local county council or to be our voice in the European Parliament but we must make sure we get out and vote in the first place to make that happen.
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