Ireland's voters headed to the polls on Friday to elect the country's 10th president, replacing incumbent Michael D. Higgins after his two seven-year terms.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 10 p.m., with about 3.6 million citizens eligible to cast ballots in the largely ceremonial role.
Surveys indicate a strong lead for Catherine Connolly, a 68-year-old independent barrister and parliament member since 2016, over Heather Humphreys of the center-right Fine Gael party.
A third option, Jim Gavin of Fianna Fail, remains on ballots despite withdrawing earlier this month due to a rental dispute scandal involving unpaid rent of €3,300 to a former tenant.
Votes for Gavin will be counted and potentially transferred under Ireland's electoral system.
Counting begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, with results expected by evening at Dublin Castle.
The new president will be inaugurated on November 11, succeeding Higgins at midnight on November 10.
Connolly's campaign has drawn broad support from left-leaning groups, including Sinn Fein, resonating particularly with young voters.
Her positions include viewing reunification with Northern Ireland as a foregone conclusion, advocating for social justice, criticizing the European Union's militarization, and taking a firm pro-Palestine stance.
This aligns with Ireland's role as one of the EU's strongest voices supporting Palestine alongside Spain.
A last-minute challenge emerged Tuesday when a deepfake video surfaced, depicting an AI-generated Connolly announcing her withdrawal on a fabricated RTE news broadcast.
Despite the disruption, Connolly maintained her lead, bolstered by endorsements from cultural figures like the Irish-language rap band Kneecap, who urged fans on X to support her.
Humphreys, 64, a former Cabinet minister overseeing arts, business, and rural development, positions herself as pro-business and pro-EU.
Raised Presbyterian in the predominantly Catholic border county of Monaghan, she emphasizes building bridges with Northern Ireland's Protestant communities to advance unity.
While the presidency holds no legislative power, Higgins expanded its scope by addressing global issues.
Humphreys highlights her decade-plus in government as a strength, while Connolly critiques her as emblematic of entrenched policies.
Critics have lamented the limited choice in this effectively two-candidate race.
The election unfolds against a backdrop of cultural resurgence, including films like The Quiet Girl and renewed interest in the Irish language.