Voter Turnout Plummets Below 40% in Presidential Election

A historic low voter turnout has been observed in the ongoing presidential election, with reports indicating that many polling stations are recording participation rates below 40%. While official figures will not be available until Saturday, preliminary data suggests a significant decline in voter engagement compared to previous elections.

By late afternoon, numerous polling centers had reported turnout figures lower than those seen during the last presidential election in 2018. As polling stations prepared to close at 22:00, there was no notable surge in voters, indicating that the national turnout may fall beneath the 43.9% recorded in 2018.

In the constituencies of the two presidential candidates, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, voter turnout showed more promise. In the Roscommon-Galway constituency, turnout varied significantly, with participation as low as 30.8% in Ballaghaderreen and as high as 55.36% in South Roscommon. Meanwhile, Dublin City experienced a notably low turnout of 38.12%.

Areas such as Kerry reported final voter turnout rates ranging from 33% in Listowel to 48% in Killarney, while rural locations like Birr in Offaly saw participation as low as 26%. At Drumgallagh National School in Co Mayo, an alarming 16% of the electorate cast their vote. Conversely, Darver in Co Louth emerged as an outlier with a turnout of 73%.

Voter Engagement and Candidate Activity

By 18:00, many polling stations across the country had reported turnout in the low to mid-20s, with Kildare North being one of the few constituencies to approach 30%. Voter engagement in rural areas of Mayo and Donegal struggled to exceed 20%.

In contrast, the strong voting patterns in Galway City and Co Monaghan, the home bases of Connolly and Humphreys, reflected a more engaged electorate. Connolly cast her vote at Claddagh National School in Galway on the morning of the election, accompanied by her son, Stephen. She emphasized the importance of each vote, stating, “The choice is now in your hands. Use that power. Don’t leave it to others to decide the kind of Ireland we will be,” through a social media post.

Humphreys also participated in the voting process, joined by her granddaughter, Charlotte, at Killeevan National School in Co Monaghan. In a message on X, she expressed gratitude to those working diligently in polling stations across the country, stating, “Job done. Thank you… for the help.”

Official Statements and Concerns

President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins, voted at St Mary’s Hospital in Dublin. Art O’Leary, chief executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, expressed hope that turnout would at least match the 43.9% figure from 2018, appealing to voters to exercise their rights.

In a separate incident, police were called after Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, and her team of canvassers faced verbal abuse and harassment from an individual on North Strand Road in Dublin. A video of the encounter, which included threats directed at the group, was shared on social media. Authorities responded to the situation at approximately 16:00, which also included reports of assaults on at least one woman.

The current election cycle has revealed significant challenges in voter turnout, raising questions about engagement levels and the overall health of the democratic process. As the final results await confirmation, the implications of this low participation rate may resonate throughout future electoral engagements.