Election count underway

THE political sparring and point scoring has come to an end and the counting is well underway for the Lurgan by-election this morning (Thursday).

Since the election was called four candidates have been vying for votes, in what some have labelled a 'pointless' election that has been 'foisted' on the people.

A total of 16,700 ballot papers were printed for Wednesday's vote to decide if Jo-Anne Dobson of the UUP, Liam Mackle of Sinn Fein, Pat McDade of the SDLP or the TUV's David Calvert should fill the vacant seat.

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Nineteen ballot boxes were collected and placed in a secure room prior to today's counting at the civic centre.

Of the 15,320 eligible to vote in the Lurgan Ward of the 2005 local government elections 9,939, or almost 65 per cent made their mark according to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

The turnout was marginally higher than the national average across the province's 26 councils.

David Calvert is the only hopeful who is running in the contest that competed in the 2005 elections.

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Under an independent banner, the TUV member polled 633 first preference votes.

Candidates required a quota of 1,222 votes in order to be elected in the 2005 elections.

In November Councillor Mark Russell tendered his resignation and councillors refused to agree on a replacement.

Independent Councillor David Jones nominated the TUV's David Calvert, but the nomination failed because no one would second the proposal.

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Both the UUP and the DUP put forward their own preferred candidates for co-option, however, the parties objected to their rival's nominations and the election was called.

Despite objecting to the co-option, the DUP then decided to pull out of the subsequent by-election.

It's widely anticipated the turnout of the election will be significantly smaller than previous contests and the result could be known as early as lunchtime today.

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