The eight candidates in the North's European election were among the first to cast their votes in yesterday's poll. Last night, however, indications were that only half of the registered electorate in Northern Ireland would have cast ballots.
More than one million people were eligible to vote in the poll which will decide who fills the three seats for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament. Polling stations closed at 10 p.m. but counting will not begin until Monday when voting has been completed in all of the participating European countries.
The chief electoral officer in the North, Mr Pat Bradley, predicted that unless there was a late surge at the polls, the turnout would be in the region of 50 per cent.
This year's election, using the proportional representation system, is the fifth election in Northern Ireland in two years. Party logos are also appearing on ballot papers for the first time.
Electoral workers in polling stations around Belfast largely reported a slow day of voting. In Glenwood primary school off the loyalist Shankill Road, voting patterns were said to be "very quiet". There were no party canvassers outside the school. The Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Robert McCartney would do well, predicted one woman - "the feelings are very deep-rooted around here".
However, at the Whiterock Road polling station in a nationalist area of west Belfast, Sinn Fein canvassers reported a steady flow of voters. Staff in a Sinn Fein tally caravan outside the school said they were keeping track of voter numbers and would know how their candidate, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, had polled at the end of the day.
On the predominately loyalist Shore Road in north Belfast those running the polling station at Grove primary school said the people were simply not coming out to vote.