Voting turnout reported as ‘busy’ in Northern Ireland’s assembly election

VOTING in Northern Ireland’s Assembly election was described as busy, with a indicative turnout of 31 per cent reported at 5pm yesterday.

The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland said the figure was based on returns from 96% of polling stations.

Earlier, chief electoral officer Virginia Mcvey said that while the official turnout is not yet known, it seemed to be high across the region.

The process is taking place to elect 90 MLAS to the devolved Stormont Assembly, with 239 candidates running.

Ms Mcvey said: “We have a new system in place, so we are able to digitally monitor turnout.

“It seems busy across most of Northern Ireland. For 92% of polling stations making an indicative return on turnout at 1pm, it was 15% on average.

“There were lots of polling stations with 20%. It seems high.”

Northern Ireland’s political leaders cast their ballots earlier on Thursday.

Sinn Fein vice-president, Michelle O’neill, filled out her ballot paper in St Patrick’s primary school in her home village of Clonoe, Co Tyrone, accompanied by party colleague, Linda Dillon.

She posed for photographs with some voters before leaving.

Thirty miles away, the DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, cast his vote at Dromore Central primary school in Co Down.

Unionist rival, Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, voted at Seagoe primary school in Portadown, Co Armagh.

He said: “It’s polling day, I don’t think anybody really knows the outcome of this.

“Things change throughout the day.”