More than three million Irish citizens will cast their ballots in the Lisbon Treaty referendum tomorrow, deciding the future structure of European Union institutions.
Both sides in the debate wound down their campaigns today amid a broadcasting moratorium, but the main party leaders issued final statements this afternoon.
Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm and voters will need to produce evidence of identity in order to vote.
A passport, driving licence, employee identity card containing a photograph, a student identity card along with a cheque book, cheque card, birth certificate or marriage certificate will be accepted.
The votes from 43 constituencies will be counted on Friday. After the completion of each count, the local returning officer will inform the referendum returning officer, who will be based at Dublin Castle, of the result from their constituencies.
Voters will be presented with a ballot paper asking them whether or not they approve the 28th Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2008, to allow Ireland to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon.
The full text of the constitutional amendment, as outlined in the Bill, will not be on the ballot paper but will be available for inspection at polling stations.
Full coverage of the referendum results will be available on The Irish Times website (http://www.ireland.com/focus/thelisbontreaty) on Friday, with reports and analysis along with audio commentary from the count centre at Dublin Castle. Results from the count centres will be updated live throughout the day.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said tomorrow’s vote on the 28th amendment to the 1937 Constitution is "an important date in Irish history".
"It will decide whether or not our country stays true to its positive approach to the European Union or takes a new and uncertain route," he said.
Mr Cowen insisted the treaty was "balanced and fair".
"Particularly because of the importance of this vote I am calling on all citizens to make the time to vote tomorrow between 7 am and 10 pm," the Taoiseach said.
Fine Gael's campaign director Gay Mitchell said the referendum vote "is an opportunity for Ireland to cement its place at the heart of Europe".
“I am optimistic that the referendum will be ratified by the Irish people tomorrow and that Ireland will move confidently forward at the heart of the new Europe that is emerging with new opportunities for all of us," he said.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said voters will have a "a hugely important decision to make tomorrow which has the potential to have a significant impact on the future direction of this country and of the European Union".
"It is a unique power because only the Irish constitution requires the Lisbon Reform Treaty to be put to a vote of the people. With that unique power also comes a particular responsibility: a responsibility to exercise the vote. I hope that Irish voters will turn out in large numbers to ensure that we get a result that accurately reflects the views of the electorate," he said.
Campaigners had ramped up their campaigns yesterday ahead of the moratorium, which came into effect at midnight. No political activity will be allowed around polling stations tomorrow.
The moratorium is aimed at ensuring that fairness and balance are achieved by broadcasters during the referendum. It is also intended to allow voters a period of reflection in the final stages of the treaty debate. .
About 1,200 registered voters on the Aran Islands were eligible to cast their ballots on the Lisbon Treaty today.
Voters on five islands off the Donegal coast have already cast their votes, and the Cork islands will vote with the rest of the nation tomorrow.