Fine Gael ahead in symbolic ballot

EMIGRANTS VOTE:THE RESULT of symbolic ballots cast by some 5,580 Irish emigrants in 124 countries has given Fine Gael 30 per cent of first preference votes.

The first count on votes cast over the past 10 days on website Ballotbox.ie was released last night. The emigrants could vote in order of preference on the real list of candidates.

Labour came in second with a quarter of the first preference votes, while Fianna Fáil and the Green Party came joint last with just eight per cent each.

Independent candidates received 18 per cent of votes from the emigrant electorate while Sinn Féin received 13 per cent of first preferences.

Willie O’Dea’s popularity appears not to have faded with his party as with Limerick seeing the best turnout for Fianna Fáil at 20 per cent.

Fine Gael’s best result was Meath West at 58 per cent, where the party is running three candidates. The worst result was Dublin North West with 14 per cent.

Sinn Féin’s best result was in newly elected TD Pearse Doherty’s constituency of Donegal South West (58 per cent) while Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams received 40 per cent of first preference votes in Louth.

Labour’s best result was in Dublin North West with 44 per cent. The highest results for Independents was 39 per cent of first preferences in Wexford, where builder Mick Wallace is among four independents running.

The website blocked voters based in Ireland and asked for passport information to discourage non-Irish voters. It was set up to highlight the disenfranchisement of Irish emigrants compared to many other countries.