Overview
- Counting began at 9 a.m. across 32 centers after polls closed at 10 p.m., with unofficial tallies showing Connolly far ahead of Heather Humphreys in constituencies including Dublin, Cork and Galway.
- Observers report an unusually high volume of deliberately spoiled ballots—at times ranking second to Connolly in some centers—with messages referencing lack of choice and broader grievances.
- Turnout is tracking below the 43.9% recorded in 2018, pointing to one of the lowest participation rates for a presidential election on record.
- Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, who withdrew from active campaigning but remained on the ballot, is polling under 10% in many tallies, below the 12.5% threshold needed to reclaim campaign expenses.
- Senior Fine Gael figures privately concede Humphreys will not overtake Connolly, as left-leaning parties’ backing consolidates Connolly’s lead and accelerates post-count political fallout for the governing parties.