Key Information:
European Election Overview
– In Dublin: The election saw Regina Doherty of Fine Gael, Barry Andrews of Fianna Fáil, Lynn Boylan of Sinn Féin, and Aodhán Ó Riordáin of Labour join the list of elected candidates. Independent Niall Boylan, Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe, and independent Clare Daly failed to achieve election. The complete results can be viewed here
– In Southern Ireland: Sean Kelly of Fine Gael maintained his MEP position. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú from Fianna Fáil might secure a second seat, along with Billy Kelleher. The race includes Independent Michael McNamara, Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan, and Independent Mick Wallace. The election outcome can be found here
– Midlands-North-West: Sinn Féin has indicated they will lose their seat with current MEPs Luke Ming Flanagan, an Independent, and Maria Walsh of Fine Gael predicted to retain their seats. Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen and Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry also had strong showing alongside Ciaran Mullooly. The comprehensive results will be accessible here
Limerick Mayoral Election
– John Moran, an Independent, has been announced as the first directly elected Mayor of Limerick City and County by securing 28,451 votes in the final count
Local election overview
– Fianna Fáil became the largest party in the local government with an edge of 246 seats
– Fine Gael is a close second with 245 seats claimed
– The ministers maintain there are no upcoming plans for a premature general election
Primary discussions
– The News Podcast highlights five major points from the local and European elections
– Opinion: I am part of the criticised group who spoil their vote
– Analysis – Sinn Féin’s weak performance in the South could impact the electoral outcome for them in the North
– About Limerick: Who is John Moran, who made a transition from crisis-era bureaucrat to State’s first directly elected mayor?
– Regarding the Local Elections: A close look at three localities that encapsulates the story of the elections.
The voting period of 2024 consisted of several events including local elections and the European Election, extending across Ireland in areas such as Dublin City, MNW, South Dublin and Ireland South. An election app ‘EU&I Voter’ was employed, with key appointments including the Limerick Mayor being elected.
Many areas including Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, DLR, Donegal, Fingal, Galway City, Galway County, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow were involved in the electoral process.
The An Coimisiún Toghcháin, an autonomous voting commission in Ireland, announced a noteworthy 29% drop in the amount of invalid votes in the local and European elections. The Commission dealt with 77,464 invalid or spoilt votes in the European and local elections conducted on 7th June, compared to 108,488 votes considered invalid in 2019. This results in a dip of 31,024 votes in spite of an increase in the voting population.
Art O’Leary, the Chief Executive Officer of the Electoral Commission, has expressed a need for a more precise understanding of why people abstained from voting in the previous week’s local and European elections, for the purpose of finding potential solutions.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr O’Leary stated that this would inevitably demand education, information and a broadening of public involvement. He noted that the commission must reach out to schools and universities, as well as groups that are traditionally less involved.
He acknowledged a variety of reasons people abstain from voting and emphasized that several factors influenced the voting numbers. The voter turnout was marginally lower than the 2019 rates, standing close to 50%.
Putting the information into perspective, the voter registry experienced a growth of almost 250,000 from 2019 to 2024. We observed almost an additional 100,000 voters participating in the recent voting session on the previous Friday. We’re currently undergoing a voter survey to gather further in-depth data in the forthcoming weeks. Interestingly, the voting took place during fine weather, ruling out its impact on voter turnout and it was also the inaugural week of June which usually marks the holiday season. Additionally, secondary schools had already wrapped up their sessions a week prior. More voters turned up this time as compared to the 2019 session.
Mr O’Leary recognised a consistent decline in voter turnout over the last two decades, with a 58 percent turnout occurring 20 years ago. He underlined the enormity of the responsibility this fact placed on the Electoral Commission.
Greetings, counting remains underway this Wednesday for the MEPs in Ireland’s Midlands North-West and South regions. Out of 949 council seats, only three remain to be filled, all part of the Newbridge LEA of Kildare County Council. Mellissa Byrne, a member of Aontú, has urged for a reevaluation of the recount, which is scheduled to commence at 10am.