Counting due to get underway in NI Council Elections

By Michael McHugh and Q Radio News

Counting will get underway this morning to find out who has been elected to Northern Ireland's eleven local councils. 

People took to the polls yesterday to have their say on the future of local government here. 

Over 800 candidates are hoping to have secured enough support to gain one of the 462 seats on offer.

We asked Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea when we can expect the first results:

Initial indications from some of the 1,463 polling stations across Northern Ireland suggest a solid turnout, with the good weather appearing to have buoyed numbers casting their ballots.

The official turnout figure in the last council election in 2014 was 51%.

Counting will continue into Saturday before the final picture is known.

Northern Ireland's political leaders cast their votes in their local areas earlier on Thursday.

DUP leader Arlene Foster voted in the Co Fermanagh village of Brookeborough while Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill voted in Clonoe, Co Tyrone.

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann voted in Ballymena, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood voted in Derry-Londonderry and Alliance leader Naomi Long cast her vote in east Belfast.

Among noteworthy races for seats will be Sinn Fein's former West Tyrone MP Barry McElduff's efforts to return from the political wilderness.

He was forced to step aside after offending the families of those shot dead by republicans at the height of the Troubles in Kingsmill, Co Armagh.

Mr McElduff is running for a place on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in the far west.

In Newtownabbey, near Belfast, the DUP's first openly-gay candidate is seeking election. Alison Bennington is standing for a party which has repeatedly vetoed same-sex marriage and holds strong Christian values.

It is the first poll since gay journalist Lyra McKee, 29, was shot dead by dissident republicans during disturbances in Derry-Londonderry in April.

Her death prompted revulsion against the group blamed for the killing and a call by a Catholic priest for politicians to redouble efforts to restore devolved powersharing.

The Stormont Assembly and ministerial Executive have been suspended since early 2017.

Former Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in a row over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.

Fresh negotiations are due to begin next week following Miss McKee's death.

The election is being conducted by single transferable vote, a proportional representation system.