Local elections: Further detail of how the political map of Northern Ireland is changing will emerge over today and tomorrow as counting in the elections to the North's councils begins today at 26 centres.
More than 1,000 candidates are competing for 582 seats on Northern Ireland's 26 councils.
In the last local poll in 2001 the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP held more seats than the DUP and Sinn Féin respectively, but based on the Westminster returns those positions could be reversed this time.
The local elections are fought on the proportional representation system and the results therefore will disclose a more accurate account of party support than the first past the post Westminster system.
Four years ago the UUP won 154 seats against 131 for the DUP while the SDLP won 117 seats against 108 for Sinn Féin. The percentage share of the vote then was 21 per cent DUP, 23 per cent UUP, 19 per cent SDLP and 21 per cent Sinn Féin.
While the SDLP had a lower percentage vote than Sinn Féin it fared better on transfers than Sinn Féin, which accounts for it winning more seats than Sinn Féin in 2001.
If, however, there is even a reasonable replication of the percentage votes for each party in relation to their Westminster percentage vote this time, then the DUP and Sinn Féin should emerge with the most local council seats.
In this Westminster election the DUP won 34 per cent of the vote against 18 per cent for the UUP while Sinn Féin won 24 per cent against 18 per cent for the SDLP.
The UUP, which saw its Westminster representation plummet from five seats to one on Friday, will in particular be hoping for better fortune in the local counts.
A reasonably strong result is important for the UUP as it seeks to rebuild after its Westminster collapse and the resignation of leader David Trimble on Saturday.
This is also an important election for Alliance. In 2001, with 5 per cent of the vote, it won 28 council seats and will be hoping to match, at least, that result in the locals.
One of the most crucial battles is for the 51-seat Belfast City Council.
Here Alliance, with three seats, held the balance of power, and it will be hoping that it can continue to have such a pivotal role on Northern Ireland's most important council.
An oddity of this election is that even before counting begins this morning six councillors are already returned for the Ballinderry ward of Cookstown Council, as there were only six candidates for the six seats there.
