Turnout in the presidential election set to re-elect Michael D Higgins is estimated at about 45 per cent in what would be the lowest of any presidential election since the State was founded. It may also be the highest winning margin in any of the eight presidential elections in the history of the State. The previous lowest turnout for a presidential election was in 1997 when 46.7 per cent of the electorate turned out and Mary McAleese was elected. And in 2013 the establishment of the Court of Appeal was backed on a turnout of just 38.15 per cent. Of the eight presidential elections since the State was founded, the highest turnout ever was in 1966 when 65.3 per cent of the electorate of 1.709 million voters turned out.

Source: The Irish Times October 27, 2018 10:41 UTC