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Ballot casting has ended in the Irish presidential election, which will decide who replaces departing head of state Michael D Higgins in the eleventh month.

The primary candidates - Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys - must wait until Saturday morning for the first indication of how the country has voted before finding out if they will become the tenth president of Ireland.

Preliminary reports point to the voter participation could face challenges to attain the historic low of just under 40% registered in the 2018 election.

Election Results

The vote counting begins at 9 AM local on Saturday and the official result is projected to be announced at the historic castle that evening.

The president of Ireland is selected by proportional representation via the single transferable vote (PR-STV) system.

Votes were cast at about 5,500 voting stations in 43 electoral districts around the nation between 7 AM and late evening on Friday.

Aspirants

Catherine Connolly is competing as an unaffiliated aspirant with the support of a broad base of liberal organizations and political figures, including the leading challenger party Sinn Féin.

The ruling alliance, Fine Gael, is supported by ex-minister, Heather Humphreys, who comes from a Protestant community in the frontier region of Monaghan.

A third candidate, Jim Gavin, who was chosen by the leading alliance member, Fianna Fáil, pulled out from the race earlier in the tenth month after intense controversy over a property conflict.

Nevertheless, as his withdrawal came after the candidate registration period, the regulation dictates his candidacy must remain on the election ballot.

Any votes placed for him will be registered as valid and passed on to the two other candidates if required.

Voter Information

Based on An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland's autonomous election authority, about millions of Irish nationals are eligible to cast ballots.

Those casting their vote on election day included Bridie Dunphy, age 104, who traveled to a polling station close to her residence in the city.

Irish residents in the northern region are ineligible to cast ballots in the election.

But, as transpired in the case of ex-president Mary McAleese, Irish individuals from Northern Ireland are permitted to contest the vote, even though they are unable to vote.

This irregularity is the subject of an continuing discussion and activists have been lobbying to have participation rights expanded to Irish nationals in Northern Ireland.

Michael D Higgins is expected to complete the final of his two consecutive terms of office at 12 AM on the 10th of November, with the successor projected to be inaugurated the subsequent day.