The public voted with their feet yesterday and stayed away from polling stations in constituencies where four by-elections were being held.
By mid-afternoon the turnout in the Dublin Fingal constituency was averaging just under 12% but in Swords it was 9% and in The Naul just 8%.
The average turnout in Dublin Mid-West was 12.4% just before 4pm but at noon one polling place in Clondalkin reported that just 3% of those registered had cast their vote.
Political analysts believe Black Friday shopping could have been one of the reasons voters stayed away from the polling stations.
The Late Late Toy show, which attracts well over a million viewers, could also have been partly responsible for the low turnout as between 9pm and when the polls close at 10pm is usually the busiest period.
The Dublin vacancies to be filled were Clare Daly’s seat in Dublin Fingal and Frances Fitzgerald’s seat in Dublin Mid-West.
Turnout in these constituencies was above 60% in the General Election three years ago.
