Election Result Expected Today

It is likely that a result from the long drawn out general election count in Wicklow may be announced this afternoon. Returning Officer, Breda Allen and her staff completed the re-examination of the ninth count

Counting, counting, counting

last night and counting will resume at noon today.

However, given the delays and the legal arguments that have taken place in recent days, nobody can forsee any problems that might arise in the meantime and it is possible that a full recount may be called following the announcement of the results.

At the moment, it is planned to go through all the disputed votes having re-checked the votes of various candidates throughout the day.

The re-checking of votes yesterday was once again a long drawn out affair as the counting staff went through each vote in front of each candidate, their election agents, scrutineers and legal representatives.

Yesterday evening, confidence was growing in the Labour camp when it seemed that Nicky Kelly was closing the five vote gap. However, with both the Kelly and the Fox camps still quietly optimistic, it is almost impossible to say who is ahead or who may come out on top when the final figures are announced.

The count has been full of drama since it first began one week ago. It is the last count under the old PR system and further history was made today when it became the longest term in history between polling day and the official election of candidates.

No candidate is officially elected yet and they will all be in the count centre today waiting for the final announcement so that they can give their election speeches.