Reflecting upon the statistics which prevailed in the Longford/Westmeath constituency upon the conclusion of counting in the General Election 2020, voter turn out was almost three percent lower (60 percent ) than the national figure of 60.9 percent.
This figure was 2.55 percent lower than the voter turnout for General Election 2016 despite polling taking place on a Saturday.
With an increase in the electorate from four years previously (94,835 ) when compared with a figure of 89,241 in 2016, total valid votes were 56,383. This particular figure was 55,246 as the ballot papers were counted in 2016.
There were fewer spoiled votes in the constituency on this occasion (500 ) when compared with the figure in 2016 (570 ), which resulted in a higher quota vote number being required to attain election (11,277 ), in comparison with 11,050 in 2016.
As was similar to numerous constituencies in the country, Sinn Féin’s first preference vote soared in the Longford/Westmeath constituency with a 21 percent figure in this domain in comparison to 9.54 percent in 2016.
Fine Gael, who had two candidates contesting the Longford/Westmeath constituency ballot paper, outgoing Senator, Gab McFadden and outgoing Deputy, Peter Burke, witnessed a slight increase in first preference votes, from 23.81 percent in 2016 to 25.5 percent in 2020.
Fianna Fáil, whose two candidates, outgoing Deputy, Robert Troy and outgoing Councillor, Joe Flaherty, achieved election to Leinster House, also saw an increase in first preference votes for the political party, increasing from 28.33 percent in 2016 to 30.1 percent in 2020.
There was a major percentage plummet for Independent candidates contesting the constituency. In 2016, first preference votes attained a figure of 26.79 percent when compared with just 13 percent in 2020.
Sitting Athlone Moate Municipal District Councillor, Louise Heavin, increased the first preference vote percentage for the Green Party in the Longford/Westmeath constituency, the relevant figure rising from 1.9 percent in 2016 to 4.1 percent in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party candidate, Alan ‘Budda’ Mangan, who was eliminated with Green Party candidate, Cllr. Louise Heavin, following the eighth count, received a first preference vote of 3.4 percent in comparison to an 8.72 percentage figure received by former Labour Party Deputy, Willie Penrose, in 2016.
