Catherine Connolly Leads Irish Presidential Election Count Amid Spoilt Votes

Counting is currently underway in the Irish Presidential Election as voters decide on a successor to Michael D Higgins for the role of President at Áras an Uachtaráin. Preliminary results indicate a strong lead for Catherine Connolly over Heather Humphreys as the ballot counting progresses. Early tallies from various constituencies suggest that Connolly is “comfortably” ahead in many areas, raising expectations for her potential victory.

During a live broadcast on RTE radio from the RDS in Dublin, former Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys noted that Connolly could be declared the winner by lunchtime. He expressed confidence in her chances, stating that the Galway TD is likely to secure victory on the first count, despite some votes still registered for Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race on October 5.

Spoilt Votes Impacting Results

While the tallies provide a clear indication of Connolly’s lead, counting will continue throughout the day. Officials expect to announce the official results soon, potentially as early as Saturday afternoon if the outcome is determined quickly. Reports indicate a significant number of spoilt votes, particularly from the Dublin area, where some voters used the opportunity to express dissatisfaction.

Some ballots featured messages such as “#spoilthevote,” while others indicated support for candidates who did not appear on the ballot, including Maria Steen. Additionally, a number of spoilt votes carried anti-government and anti-immigration sentiments, with one ballot displaying the message, “shame on FG/FF.”

Despite these invalid votes not contributing to the official tally, their existence may lead to queries regarding their legitimacy, which could complicate the counting process in certain regions. Nonetheless, given the substantial predicted margin between Connolly and Humphreys, it is unlikely that these queried votes will significantly alter the overall results.

As counting proceeds, the nation awaits further updates on this pivotal election, with the potential for a historic announcement regarding the next President of Ireland.