The transferring of votes in the 2024 Laois General Election gets underway in Portlaoise this morning with two seats still remaining to be filled.
Fine Gael’s Willie Aird was elected on Saturday evening after a stunning performance from the first-time Dáil candidate, a crowning achievement having been first elected at local level 45 years ago in 1949.
Returning Officer Rory Hanniffy adjourned proceedings last night at 10.30pm following the sixth count.
He will get underway at 9am today with the elimination of Portarlington-based Independent candidate Elaine Mullally’s 2,959 votes.
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) still needs approximately 700 votes to reach the quota while Brian Stanley (Independent) remains 2,200 off being elected.
Sinn Fein’s Maria McCormack is still a further 1,800 behind and it’s likely that her eventual elimination will see Stanley over the line.
Jason Lynch (Independent), Austin Stack (Fianna Fáil), Ken Mooney (People Before Profit), Pauline Flanagan (Independent), Mary Hand (Aontú) and Rosie Palmer (Green Party) have already been eliminated.
The current state of play is as follows:
- Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 9,619 ELECTED after the 5th Count
- Sean Fleming (Fianna Fáil) – 8,872
- Brian Stanley (Independent) – 7,344
- Maria McCormack (Sinn Féin) – 5,538
- Aisling Moran (Independent) – 3,652
- Elaine Mullally (Independent) – 2,959 – ELIMINATED after 6th Count
- Mary Hand (Aontu) – ELIMINATED after 5th Count
- Ken Mooney (People Before Profit) – ELIMINATED after 5th Count
- Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – ELIMINATED after 4th Count
- Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – ELIMINATED after 3rd Count
- Austin Stack (Fianna Fáil) – ELIMINATED after 2nd Count
- Jason Lynch (Independent) – ELIMINATED after 1st Count
Quota – 9,570
The LaoisToday team is back in the count centre and will keep you updated throughout the day.
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