Counting got underway at 9am this morning for the Lifford-Stranorlar Local Electoral Area (LEA) at the Finn Valley Centre in Stranorlar.
The result of the first official count is not expected until at least 2pm so things are relatively quiet here at the moment.
According to yesterday’s normally accurate tallies, Glenfin man Martin Scanlon will top the poll.
Scanlon has taken 1,387 first preference votes with 12.5% of the total – a full 187 votes ahead of his next rival.
The independent candidate was delighted with his showing and is ahead of many seasoned campaigners such as Martin Harley, Frank McBrearty, Gary Doherty, Patrick McGowan and Gerry Crawford.
Another candidate showing well is the 100% Redress candidate Charles Ward who sits in seventh place on 860 after the tally. Niall McConnell has caused somewhat of a surprise and is in eighth place with 856. However, he is unlikely to be ‘transfer friendly’ and the sixth and final seat could be a battle between Crawford and Nic Mheanman.
Scanlon is unlikely to be elected on the first count, as he will not achieve the quota, but is likely to be carried shoulder high following the distribution of the votes of the first eliminated candidate.
The result of yesterday’s full tally is:
Martin Scanlon, non-party; 12.5 percent; 1,387 votes
Martin Harley, Fine Gael; 10.8 percent, 1,200 votes
Frank McBrearty, non-party; 10.7 percent, 1,188 votes
Gary Doherty, Sinn Féin; 10.4 percent, 1,151 votes
Patrick McGowan, Fianna Fáil; 10.2 percent, 1,125
Gerry Crawford, Fianna Fáil, 8.9 percent, 984 votes
Charles Ward, 100% Redress; 7.8 percent, 860 votes
Niall McConnell, non-party; 7.7 percent, 856 votes
Dakota Nic Mheanman, Sinn Féin; 7 percent, 780 votes
Tony McDaid, Sinn Féin; 5.6 percent, 615 votes
Garvan Connolly, Fine Gael; 4.6 percent, 509 votes
Rebecca McDaid, Aontú; 3.7 percent, 410 votes
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