🔗 Share this article Polls Have Closed in Ireland's Race for the Presidency Head of State Michael D Higgins casting his ballot with his wife Sabina on Friday's early hours Ballot casting has concluded in the Irish presidential election, which will settle who replaces departing head of state Michael D Higgins in November. The two main contenders - Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys - must wait until Saturday morning for the first indication of how the country has cast ballots before discovering if they will become the tenth president of Ireland. Initial estimates suggest the turnout could potentially struggle to reach the record low of just under 40% registered in the 2018 election. Election Results The ballot tallying commences at 9 AM local on Saturday and the final outcome is projected to be declared at Dublin Castle that evening. The Irish president is selected by representative voting via the transferable ballot (PR-STV) process. Ballots were submitted at approximately 5,500 polling booths in 43 electoral districts around the nation between early morning and late evening on Friday. Presidential Candidates Fine Gael is represented by a previous cabinet member Heather Humphreys Catherine Connolly is campaigning as an independent candidate with the backing of a broad base of progressive groups and politicians, including the primary opposition Sinn Féin. The coalition government party, Fine Gael, is supported by former government minister, Heather Humphreys, who hails from a Protestant background in the border county of Monaghan. Catherine Connolly is competing as an non-party contender A third candidate, Jim Gavin, who was chosen by the leading alliance member, Fianna Fáil, pulled out from the campaign earlier in the tenth month after major dispute over a 16-year-old rental dispute. However, as his departure came after the close of nominations, the legislation specifies his candidacy must stay on the election ballot. Any ballots submitted for him will be tallied as valid and passed on to the other aspirants if required. Electorate Details Per An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland's official voting body, about 3.6 million eligible Irish citizens are eligible to participate. Those voting on Friday included Bridie Dunphy, age 104, who made her way to a polling station near her residence in the capital. Irish citizens in the six counties are unable to participate in the vote. But, as happened in the instance of ex-president Mary McAleese, Irish citizens from the northern territory are permitted to participate in the vote, even though they are unable to cast ballots. This peculiar situation is the topic of an continuing discussion and cross-border campaigners have been lobbying to have participation rights extended to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. Michael D Higgins is scheduled to complete the final of his successive seven-year terms at the witching hour on the 10th of November, with the new president expected to be inaugurated the subsequent day.