DUP are early frontrunners in Strangford

DUP are early frontrunners in Strangford

3 March 2017

COUNTING is underway in Strangford with a tight race ahead for its five seats.

The DUP's Michelle McIlveen and Simon Hamilton are the early frontrunners but there are indications of a long wait before the first result is announced.

There was a 10% increase in  turnout  in Strangford, with 60.94% ot the electorate casting a vote compared to 50.25 last year.

The expected quota this year is around 6500, meaning candidates need almost 2000 than last year. This could have an impact with less transfers to go around.

All eyes will be on independent candidate Jonathan Bell, - whose testimony on the RHI scandal helped prompt Stormont's collapse - and how he will fare against his former DUP colleagues.

The standard return in Strangford in recent years has been DUP 3, UUP 2 and Alliance 1 and in May 2016 the UUP's Mike Nesbit was a surprise poll topper.

How his recent remarks on the transfer of votes to nationalist candiates will affect his vote is also of interest.

The SDLP's Joe Boyle is on his fifth attempt to obtain a nationalist seat, narrowly beaten on the last occasion by the UUP's Philip Smith.

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