Voter turnout mixed across the county

Voter turnout has been mixed across the county, with uptake “steady” in some larger urban areas, and seen as “slow” in other more rural village and parish-based polling stations.

The polling period lasts between 7.00am and 10.00pm, with the heavier lifting in terms of turnout expected by some centre supervisors to come in the late afternoon to mid-evening.

There are a total 136 boxes across 64 Polling stations in Co Cavan, and voters have decisions to make on three separate ballot sheets- Local and European elections, and a vote on the Divorce Referendum.

 

Turnout

In the Cavan-Belturbet area, at the St Clare's National School voting centre in Cavan Town, invigilators reported a “steady stream of voters from early morning.”

That included a small queue of eager people forming ready to cast their ballots even before the centre first opened its doors at 7am.

In Belturbet, at St Mary's National School, the town voting boxes were being used more than those covering the extended environs, and the same could be said of other areas too. In Ballyhaise National School for instance, in the Bailieborough-Cootehill area, turnout was “slow” early on, while in the likes of Arvagh and Ballinagh, both in the Ballyjamesduff area, voting turnout was also described as “quiet”.

In Arvagh they have reduced the number of polling booths from two to one since the last elections, with 18 of the 712 voters having cast their votes just before 9am.

Booth staff said they can expect the usual surges after 9.30am, later after Mass, and usually before closing.

Of the three booths in Ballinagh, located in the Ballinagh Community Centre, booth 1 has 420 registered votes, with 20 having cast their votes early doors.

In booth 2, there are 450 voters are registered, and 24 had cast their votes.

In the final, and quietest booth 3, just nine of the 346 voters registered voters had spent their ballots.

At Kilmore National School, between Crossdoney and Cavan Town, straddles both the Cavan-Belturbet and Ballyjamesduff areas.

In booth 1, which covers the Ballyjamessduff area, around 30 people have cast ballots. Traditionally voting is slow starting out, and is not expected to pick up until late afternoon when people finish work.

In booth 2, which covers the Cavan-Belturbet, approximately a dozen votes cast their votes as of 10am. Typically the turnout is around 57% at local election time, and supervisors hopeful the local election will assist in attracting a higher voter turnout and in turn bump up voting number in the European election.

 

Candidates

In the local elections, there are 13 candidates to choose from in the Bailieborough-Cootehill. Municipal District Area, nine in Ballyjamesduff, and 11 in Cavan-Belturbet. There are a total of six seats available in each of the respective areas.

Five outgoing councillors are looking for re-election in Bailieborough-Cootehill, three former councillors looking to reclaim a seat, and five new faces. Fianna Fail are running five candidates, Fine Gael four, two Sinn Féin, and one each for Aontú and the Labour Party.

In Ballyjamesduff, there are four outgoing councillors seeking re-election, one second time candidate, and three new names on the ballot sheet. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are running three candidates each,, with two Sinn Féin, and one Aontú.

Finally, in the Cavan-Belturbet area, there are six outgoing councillors looking to reclaim their place back in the County Chambers, one former County Councillor, one former Urban Councillor, a former election candidate, and two new faces. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael each have three candidates, Sinn Féin again have two, and there is one Independent, Labour Party, and Solidarity/ PBP candidate in the race.

 

Europe, and Divorce

Countywide there have been reports of confusion among voters being handed three ballot papers, with a seeming lack of awareness in respect of the Divorce Referendum also taking place.

There is further bewilderment with regard European election candidate recognition, with voters said to be struggling to identify all of the 17 candidates vying for one of the four seats available seat in the Midlands North West constituency.

Voters again are advised to bring their voting card and official ID with them to the polling centres.

Valid forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, student card with photo etc. A polling card is not a valid form of identification.

 

Count

The counting for all three votes will take place in Cavan, starting on Saturday, May 25 at 9am.

The European tally will be presented to the central count centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo; while the Referendum decision for the constituency will be brought to Dublin.

Its expected that the local election could could run into Sunday, and even maybe Monday, May 26.