Ireland election: Three parties battle for top place [Video]

DUBLIN –

A marathon vote-counting exercise was underway Saturday in Ireland’s national election after an exit poll suggested that the contest is a close-fought race among the country’s three largest political parties.

Election officials opened ballot boxes at count centers across the country, kicking off what could be several days of tallying the results. If the exit poll is borne out, that could be followed by days or weeks of negotiations to form a coalition government.

The exit poll suggested voters’ support is split widely among the three big parties — Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein — as well as several smaller parties and an assortment of independents ranging from the left to the far right.

The poll said that center-right party Fine Gael was the first choice of 21 per cent of voters, and another center-right party, Fianna Fail, of 19.5 per cent. The two parties governed in coalition before the election…