FLOATING VOTERS

Hundreds of thousands may skip ballot if it's too wet Low turnout fear comes as Connolly still has big lead

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

AROUND 180,000 people will skip the polls tomorrow if rainy weather continues, the Electoral Commission has said.

Presidential elections always yield lower numbers than general elections, and experts fear tomorrow's turnout could be even lower than in 2018, when President Michael D Higgins was elected for his second term.

Scattered showers are expected throughout the country, which will lead to fewer people getting to their local stations.

In the last presidential election just 44% of the population cast their vote, compared to the 2024 General Election which was just shy of 60%.

Independent Catherine Connolly is all but set to win, with the latest opinion poll by the Business Post Red/C showing the candidate 19 points ahead of Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys.

The Electoral Commission was out on Grafton Street yesterday as a final push to encourage undecided voters to get to have their say.

Art O'Leary, chief executive of the commission, said it's not all but decided, as 30% of Irish people only make their decision in the final week.

Mr O'Leary said: "It's a rainy day in Grafton Street, and we're trying to remind people to get out and vote.