Offaly election candidate baffled by blank votes amid dramatic election count

One candidate in the Offaly Local Elections has been left puzzled by the sheer volume of blank ballot papers seemingly cast in Friday’s election.

Barbara Daly is looking good for a seat in the Birr Electoral Area but the Ferbane woman has made comments on the number of blank votes in ballot boxes after checking took place on Saturday evening.

Fianna Fail candidate Daly has said there was a large number of spoiled votes in the Birr Electoral Area.

“A lot of ballot papers were left blank which I’d understand in a referendum but not in a parliamentary election,” she said.

There was also some drama on Saturday evening when the count for the Edenderry area was paused overnight after a ‘discrepancy’ was found in the ballots.

Counters were sent home for the night with no first count result for the town on Saturday. Counting resumed on Sunday with three candidates elected in the area by 4pm on Sunday, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Fergus McDonnell and Claire Murray (FF). 

Counting is continuing to fill the remaining seats and you can keep up to date with all updates on our dedicated live blog HERE.