Longford local election votes will once again be tallied in TUS Athlone

The segregation of votes following the June 7 local and European elections involves a major logistical operation and it will see the ballot boxes from the 58 polling stations across county Longford make their way to the TUS Athlone International Arena in Westmeath.

The 39 candidates seeking election in three Longford municipal districts and their tally teams will be at the Technological University of the Shannon venue from before 9am on Saturday morning (June 8) as the ballot boxes are opened and the local and European voting papers inside are separated.

As count staff separate the votes, tally teams will begin their work and by around lunchtime on Saturday, a Longford tally will hopefully become available.

The Longford local election ballot papers will then be transported to the count centre at St Mary’s campus in Edgeworthstown with the official counting of votes, under the watchful eye of Returning Officer Mary Gouldsbury and her staff, scheduled to get underway later that evening.

During the last local election count in 2019 at Edgeworthstown, it was almost 9pm on the Saturday night before the counting of votes officially got underway and people had to wait until after 6pm on Sunday for a first count result in Longford to be announced. The count wasn't completed until the following Tuesday at 9.30pm so be prepared for another lengthy count process this time around!

A record 27 candidates are running in the Midlands North West for the European Parliament election and votes will be officially counted in Castlebar.