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High winds and late start hampers voter turnout
By Paul Anderson and Patrick Logue
High winds and heavy rain in some areas greeted early voters in a sluggish start to polling in today's abortion referendum. Voting at polling stations in Co Mayo and south Dublin was reported to be particularly slow.
Some voters complained of the late start - 8 a.m. is the starting time for general elections - while students said the mid-week date prevented them from voting because they did not study in the same place they were registered to vote.
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The Taoiseach Mr Ahern outside a polling station after casting his vote in the referendum in Druncondra this morning.
Photo by Paul Mcerlane/Reuters
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Voting in some parts of Dublin was said to be down so far based on the turnout for the Nice Treaty vote. Between four and 11 per cent of voters are estimated to have cast their votes this morning.
One returning officer told ireland.com that many people did not vote on their way to work because of the late start time and many would vote on their way home this evening.
However voting in other areas of Dublin is said to be "brisk all round".
In Galway, polling was also said to be brisk this morning with some stations reporting larger figures than the last General Election. However some reports suggest the turnout on some of the islands off the west coast was less than 40 per cent.
Turnout in Limerick city was said to be patchy, but overall down compared to the Nice vote.
Voting began at 9 a.m. with President McAleese and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern setting an example to the electorate by turning up early at their own polling stations.
Ms McAleese arrived soon after the booths opened on hospital premises near Áras an Uachtaráin, and Mr Ahern voted at a national school in Druncondra.
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More than half of the students here live away from home, and a poll on a Wednesday makes it exceptionally difficult for them to get to the polling booths
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USI president, Mr Richard Hammond
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The Fine Gael leader cast his vote in Dooradoyle near Limerick at 10.30 a.m., while the Labour Party leader Mr Ruairi Quinn will cast his vote in Dublin later today.
Opinion polls have indicated a narrowing support for the Government proposal, but as the campaign wore on polls indicated more and more people were undecided. Perhaps the only thing everyone agreed on was the result would be too close to call.
Close to three million people are eligible to vote today on the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the Twenty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) Bill, 2001.
The proposal is intended to remove the threat of suicide as a ground for abortion; define abortion as the intentional destruction of human life after implantation in the womb; allow for medical procedures which involve ending a pregnancy to save a woman's life; and introduce a sentence of up to 12 years for procuring or aiding in an abortion.
As polling started today, it was claimed the majority of university students would be disenfranchised.
Union of Students in Ireland president Mr Richard Hammond said: "More than half of the students here live away from home, and a poll on a Wednesday makes it exceptionally difficult for them to get to the polling booths.
"And of those who are at home, many are working. So we reckon up to 75 per cent are not going to be able to vote."
Polls close at 9 p.m. this evening with final figures confirmed late tomorrow afternoon though but indications may emerge earlier.
Additional reporting PA
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