Counting of votes in Ireland’s general election commenced on Saturday morning, with an exit poll revealing a closely contested race among the three main political parties.
Sinn Féin leads narrowly with 21.1 per cent of first-preference votes, followed by Fine Gael at 21 per cent and Fianna Fáil at 19.5 per cent. The Ipsos B&A Exit Poll, commissioned by RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4, and Trinity College Dublin, suggests a tight race as the nation awaits the results of its proportional representation system.
The combined support for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, current coalition partners, stands at 40.5 per cent, indicating a potential need for a broader coalition.
Ireland’s proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV) system requires several rounds of counting, as voters rank candidates by preference. This intricate process could stretch over several days.
As counting began at 9am, the nation turned its attention to the likely impact of transfer votes, which play a critical role in determining the final distribution of parliamentary seats. The exit poll also analysed second preferences, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael each receiving 20 per cent, while Sinn Féin garnered 17 per cent, underscoring the complexity of the eventual outcome.
A record 174 parliamentary seats are up for grabs across 43 constituencies, with more than 3.6 million registered voters participating. The election has been shaped by pressing issues, including Ireland’s housing crisis, economic challenges such as the cost of living, immigration policy, and potential trade disruptions.