Ireland votes for new president with Catherine Connolly expected to win amid low turnout and criticism over limited candidate options.
DUBLIN: Ireland voted on Friday to elect a new president in an election criticised for failing to offer voters a real choice.
Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is expected to defeat her challenger in the contest that has prompted concerns about voter turnout.
Conservative figures urged voters to spoil their ballots in protest at the absence of right-wing options in the presidential race.
The election pitted Connolly against centrist Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys as the only two main contenders.
Several celebrities had considered running for the presidency including mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor.
Singer Bob Geldof and dancer Michael Flatley were also among those who contemplated entering the race.
The winner will succeed 84-year-old Michael Higgins who has held the presidential office since 2011.
Polls closed at 10:00 pm local time with the final result expected to be announced late on Saturday.
More than 3.6 million people across Ireland were eligible to participate in the presidential election.
Turnout in the previous 2018 presidential election reached 44 percent but appeared lower this time.
Many areas reported turnout figures below 40 percent according to early area statistics.
Just 38 percent of the electorate voted in Dublin city based on the available area data.
Official nationwide turnout figures will not be confirmed until Saturday.
Experts had forecast low overall participation due to frustration with the limited candidate choice.
A recent poll indicated that 49 percent of voters did not feel represented by either candidate.
Overwhelming favourite Connolly arrived by bicycle to vote at a primary school in Claddagh.
The 68-year-old was greeted by well-wishers in the west coast city of Galway where she cast her ballot.
Connolly told reporters she had taken a morning swim to help calm her nerves before voting.
The lawmaker first elected in 2016 has received support from left-wing parties including Sinn Fein.
She has surged ahead in opinion polls during the final weeks of the campaign.
The lawyer who has been critical of both the United States and European Union boosted her profile with younger voters.
Connolly appeared on popular podcasts and went viral with a video showcasing her football skills.
Galway resident Orla Craven described Connolly as quite inspirational during the campaign.
Another supporter Dominic Burke said Connolly speaks the truth which has been missing in Ireland.
Her rival Humphreys is also in her sixties and comes from Ireland’s Protestant minority.
The former cabinet minister has campaigned as a unifying figure throughout the election.
A third candidate Jim Gavin representing centrist Fianna Fail remained on ballot papers despite withdrawing.
Gavin only quit the race earlier this month after his party had already finalized candidate nominations.
The former military pilot had been the pick of Taoiseach Micheal Martin for the presidency.
He withdrew after a previous tenant claimed Gavin owed him thousands of euros from a 2009 debt. – AFP
