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MOST OF US won’t get to cast our votes until early tomorrow morning — but for some two thousand voters off the west and northwest coasts, polling day comes a day early.
2,124 voters, to be precise, are eligible to vote today on the islands in question — which include Arranmore and Tory Island off Donegal, Mayo’s Clare Island and Galway’s Inishmore and Inishboffin.
Inishfree, also off Donegal, has the smallest electorate of the list — with just six eligible voters.
Citizens living in the areas typically vote a day early to avoid the possibility that bad weather that could prevent ballot boxes from being brought to count centres on time.
Air Corps helicopters will pick up the full boxes this evening and ferry them to the mainland.
Some 440 people on islands off Cork, including Bere, Clear and Sherkin islands, will vote tomorrow, when the polls open nationwide at 7am.
Counting for the local elections begins on Saturday, with the process expected to go on late into the evening.
The European count gets under way at 9am on Sunday.
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Will the Polling Station have to stay open for the usual 15 hours for the 6 people that live on InishFree????..
Its a long day considering those 6 voters also work the polling place!
They should get to decide for everybody, save a bundle in landfill charges
Inishmore? What about the other two Aran Islands?
Inishmore isnt an Aran Island.
Where is it?
Yes. It is.
Internet FFS ! More nonsensical money squandering !!
I’m all for everyone getting there vote etc but how much is it costing every election to fly the air corps helicopter over to get the six votes?
Probably the same it costs to fly the helicopter anywhere else.
Which is quite a but of money and a complete waste in my opinion. Why not just do it over the internet?
The helicopter crew would be getting paid regardless wether they fly or not, Also in aviation the crew has to fly so many hours a year and remain current regarding flying the aircraft.
The same applies to someone flying a light aircraft from memory they must perform 12 take off & landings among other things.
So how exactly do you want to manage it Darren? Ground the helicopters and ask the island residents to make their own way to the mainland to vote? Many of them likely older people who’ve lived there all their lives.
To the best of my knowledge, the helicopter needs to fly anyhow so why not put it to use while it’s out!
have your say