Almost 1,000 extra register to vote in Offaly
by Danielle Harney Updated: Friday, 18th February, 2011 1:45pm
A total of 934 additional people have registered to vote in Offaly in time for the general election taking place next Friday February 25.
The supplementary register has been updated for this year, giving a total electoral register of 51,827 in Offaly. There were 934 added to the supplementary register and 54 were deleted.
This year there is a completely changed political landscape in the Laois/Offaly constituency, with two high-profile incumbents retiring from politics, a number of party splits and a huge increase in independents contesting one of five seats on February 25. Overall, there are 21 candidates running in Laois/Offaly constituency, which is the second-highest number of candidates to run after Wicklow with 25 candidates.
In 2007, there were 16 candidates and a total electorate of 103,673 in the constituency (although part of south Offaly is now included within the North Tipperary boundary).
In 2007, Fine Gael received 27.36% of the voter share while Fianna Fáil got a massive 56.38% of the voter share. The first four past the post made the quota after transfers. Sinn Féin won 5.11% of the voter share, while Labour will be looking to improve on their poor 2.38% voter share.
Brian Cowen (FF) received a massive 19,102 first preference votes or 26.72% of the vote share, winning a seat on the first count. On the eight count, Olwyn Enright (FG) was elected to the second seat. She got 8,297 first preference votes, or 11.61% of the voter share.
Sean Fleming (FF) and Charlie Flanagan (FG) also made quota coming in third and fourth, while John Moloney (FF) was elected on the 11th count without making quota.
John Foley came sixth, eliminated on the 11th count. In seventh place was the first non-FF or FG candidate, that was Tom Parlon of the PDs, with 5.92% of the voter share and was eliminated in the eight count. Brian Stanley for Sinn Féin came in eight place, with 5.11% of the voter share and eliminated on the seventh count.
In May 2007, there was 71,491 valid votes cast, and 662 spoilt votes, giving a total turnout of 69%.
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