COUNTING OF VOTES in the Fiscal Compact referendum is set to begin at 9 o’clock this morning with suggestions that the low turnout may affect the final result.

Turnout was low across the country yesterday with many poll stations reporting low turnouts than in previous comparable referendums. Bad weather, a mid-week vote, and a lack of engagement with the referendum is being seen as the reason for the lower than expected turnout.  RTE.ie suggests that turnout will struggle to hit 50 per cent.

In comparison, previous referendums saw turnouts of 34.9 per cent (the first Nice vote), 49.5 per cent (the second Nice vote), 53.1 per cent (the first Lisbon vote) and 59 per cent (the second Lisbon vote).
3.13 million people were entitled to vote, suggesting that around 1.6 million people did not cast their ballot.

The Telegraph cites ‘secret Irish government exit polls‘ which predicted a Yes victory by around 60 per cent to 40 per cent. The figure is comparable to opinion polls which took place before the vote which found a similar result once undecided voters were ruled out. However government parties have not confirmed that any such exit poll even took place, and the result has not been reported anywhere else.

Counting will take place at 26 individual count centres nationwide with the overall result to be announced from the central results centre in Dublin Castle.

The length of time that the count takes will depend on the number of votes cast and whether the vote is tight or not. The first indications of results is expected later this morning with a result likely by early evening.

What effect might the turnout have on the Fiscal Compact referendum? >

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