Catherine Connolly Leads in Irish Presidential Election Count

Counting is underway in the Irish Presidential Election, where voters are deciding on a successor to Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. The contest features Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, with early tallies suggesting a significant lead for Connolly. Reports indicate that Connolly is “comfortably” ahead in many voting districts, and there is speculation she could be declared president by lunchtime.

Former Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys spoke on RTE radio from the Dublin counting location at the RDS. He expressed confidence in Connolly’s victory, stating, “I see Catherine Connolly home and comfortable in the first count.” Despite the presence of votes for Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race on October 5, the overall trend appears to favor Connolly significantly.

Counting is expected to continue throughout the day, with official results likely available by the afternoon. Some early reports indicate a high proportion of spoiled votes, particularly in Dublin. Many voters expressed their discontent by writing messages like “#spoilthevote” on their ballots, while others submitted invalid votes for candidates who did not appear on the official ballot.

A notable number of these spoiled votes reflected anti-government sentiments, including one ballot that read, “shame on FG/FF.” While these invalid votes will not influence the final tally, they may raise questions about voter intentions. Despite this, the anticipated margin between Connolly and Humphreys suggests that the impact of any disputed ballots will be minimal.

As the counting process unfolds, the nation is poised for a clear decision regarding its next president. The early indications point towards a historic moment for Connolly, who could become the first woman to assume the presidency of Ireland.

With the counting expected to wrap up later today, all eyes will be on the results as they come in. The political landscape in Ireland could see a significant shift depending on the final outcome of this pivotal election.