Evening surge expected in Lisbon vote





Turnout in the second Lisbon referendum is reported to be high in Dublin city but low in other parts of the country, especially compared to last year's vote.

More than 3m people are eligible to vote in the referendum.

Polling stations around Ireland opened at 7am and will close tonight at 10pm.

Turnout is reported to be high in Dublin but voting is said to be slow in other parts of the country, especially compared to last year's vote.

Many polling stations are expecting a late surge this evening before polls close.

Dublin South West, which returned the highest No vote in the country in the last referendum, had recorded the biggest turnout in the Dublin county area by 5pm.

Dun Laoghaire, which recorded the biggest Yes vote, had a turnout of 29.5%.

In the province of Leinster the real voting in this referendum is beginning this evening.

Four of the ten constituencies here have a substantial number of commuters to the capital every day - that means the turnout in Kildare, Meath, Louth and Wicklow is currently struggling.

It is a different story in the rural constituencies of Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois-Offaly, Longford-Westmeath and Wexford, where the average turnout is closer to 30%.

In the west, voting in Galway city has picked up as people finish work, while parts of Connemara in Galway West are reporting turnout of between 20 - 25%.

Rural Mayo has seen a turnout of around 20%, with urban areas slightly higher at around 27%, although still lower than last year.

Southern constituencies were reporting a turnout of greater than 30% by 6pm and many expect a surge later this evening.

In the first Lisbon Treaty referendum, the 12 constituencies that make up the South Euro constituency - Munster without Clare - had a turnout just under 54%.

Leaders cast their votes

Among the first to vote was President Mary McAleese, who cast her ballot in St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park.

The Taoiseach, joined by his wife Mary, cast his vote at Mucklagh National School Co Offaly this morning. There were a number of members of national and international press present.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny cast his vote at 9.15am in his home town of Castlebar, while Labour leader Eamon Gilmore cast his ballot in Scoil Mhuire on Shanganagh Road in Shankill.

Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin cast his vote at St Patrick's Hall in Monaghan town this morning.

Socialist Party MEP for Dublin Joe Higgins was in Huntstown School in Mulhuddart, while Libertas leader Declan Ganley, accompanied by his family, cast his ballot at Brierfield National School in Tuam in Co Galway.

Presiding officers say voting is slower so far than the last referendum, a situation not helped by early morning rain.

Some people expressed concerns that they had thrown out their voting cards believing them to be referendum literature, because they arrived in booklet form this year.

People who have not received their polling cards are still entitled to vote once their name is on the electoral register and they have proof of identity.

Every Irish citizen who is over 18 and on the Register of Electors can vote. (Check the register)

When a person goes to the polling station today they will be given one ballot paper and asked whether or not they approve of the proposal to amend the Constitution to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon. (Read the Treaty in English or Irish)

If voters approve of the proposal, they should mark X in the square beside Tá/Yes on the ballot paper, if they do not approve they should mark X in the square beside Níl/No.

If a voter has not received a polling card they should bring valid forms of identification, such as a passport, a driving licence, or an employee or student photo identity card, to the polling station.

Counting of votes will begin at 9am tomorrow.



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