Canvassers from the main political parties are predicting one of the lowest by-election turnouts in the history of the State when voters in Dublin South Central go to the polls today to elect a successor to the late Labour deputy Pat Upton.
The polls open at 8 a.m. and polling stations will remain open until 9 p.m. The count begins tomorrow morning in the Serpentine Hall at the RDS, Ballsbridge.
Clear indications of the result should be known by late morning and unless there is a recount, the result should be declared by late tomorrow afternoon by the returning officer, Dublin City Sheriff Mr Brendan Walsh.
Some 81,525 people are eligible to vote, but the main parties all predict a turnout of below 40 per cent. In the 1997 General Election, 60.7 per cent of those eligible voted in the constituency. Nine candidates are contesting the election.
Voters may be required to produce evidence of identity at polling stations. Documents acceptable as evidence of identity include a passport, driving licence, employee or student identity card, social welfare payments book, medical card, free travel card, travel document with the voter's name and photograph, a signing-on or social services card, bank or savings bank book, cheque book, cheque or credit card, credit union membership card, or a birth or marriage certificate.
The constituency includes the south-west inner city at its northern end and runs south as far as Templeogue. It includes suburbs such as Drimnagh, Crumlin, Walkinstown, Harold's Cross and Terenure.
The outcome will have little effect on the stability of the minority Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats Coalition Government. A Government defeat would return the Dail to the status quo that existed before Dr Pat Upton's death, with the Government needing the support of three independent deputies to be sure of winning tight Dail votes.
A victory for Fianna Fail's Mr Michael Mulcahy would marginally ease the Government's position, leaving it reliant on just two independents in such votes.