ANALYSIS: Almost three million people are entitled to vote in today's general election to choose 165 TDs from 462 candidates, at just over 2,800 polling stations.
The most recent figures showed 2,952,400 people on the register of electors, although that is expected to increase with the supplemental register.
For the first time, polling stations will remain open for 15 hours, from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
It is also the first time that electronic voting will be part of an election when three constituencies will use this system. They are Dublin North, Dublin West and Meath, the constituency of the Minister with responsibility for the electronic voting, Mr Noel Dempsey, Minister for Environment and Local Government.
Voter turnout has been declining in recent years. In 1987 it was 73 per cent, but this fell to 69 per cent in 1989. In 1992 it was down to 68 per cent, and it fell to 66 per cent at the last general election in 1997.
"Anything less than 63 per cent or 64 per cent would represent an acceleration in the decline in the turnout," according to Mr Ian McShane of MRBI, the market research and opinion poll specialists. He doubts, however, that longer opening hours will reverse the decline.
The electorate will choose 165 of the Dail's 166 TDs. The Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison of Carlow-Kilkenny, is automatically returned.
The 462 candidates include 106 from Fianna Fáil, 85 from Fine Gael, 46 from Labour, 20 from the Progressive Democrats, 31 Green party members, and 37 Sinn Féin members. There are also 95 independent candidates and 43 from the smaller parties and groups, including 23 from the Christian Solidarity Party, five Socialist Party candidates, seven from the Socialist Workers' Party, and eight Workers' Party candidates.
The youngest candidate is 21 years old, and the oldest 80.
Among the 462 candidates are three MEPs and 22 ex-TDs, including one who was last in the Dáil 20 years ago.
Already, just over 2,200 people have had the opportunity to vote in the islands off Donegal, Mayo and Galway.
Voters in Inishfree, Tory, Arranmore, Gola and Inishboffin, all off the Co Donegal coast, voted on Tuesday.
On Wednesday the electorate of Co Galway's Inishbofin island voted, as did the residents of the Aran islands, Inishturk, Inishbiggle and Clare island, Co Mayo.
The 470 islanders of the south-west coast will vote today with the rest of the electorate.
They include the residents of Bere and Clare islands, Dursey, Hare, Whiddy, Long Island (Schull), and Sherkin island.
People who opted for postal votes have also already registered their preferences.
Results from the three electronic voting constituencies will be known in the early hours of tomorrow and could be an early indicator of how the rest of the election will turn out.
Counting in the other 39 constituencies will begin tomorrow morning, with results declared throughout the day as counts are completed. In constituencies where counting is not completed tomorrow, it will continue on Sunday.
Although the results of the election will be known in the coming days, the new government will not be confirmed until the 29th Dáil sits in Leinster House on June 6th.
