NI election turnout highest since Good Friday Agreement

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Final results expected by Saturday afternoon. Live updates here.

This should be interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-north...7-39147988

The turnout for the Northern Ireland Assembly election is the highest since the vote which followed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Féin has increased its vote, whilst the DUP has largely held its place.

A total of 64.8% of the electorate voted - up 10 points on last year - beating the 2003 figure by 0.8%.
So far 47 out of 90 seats have been confirmed.

Former First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster, Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt are among those elected.

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Good results for both sides, it seems.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-north...7-39159423

Sinn Féin has hailed the assembly election as a "watershed" moment after the party came within one seat of drawing level with the DUP.

Only 1,168 first preference votes separated the two parties and, for the first time, unionists do not have an overall majority at Stormont.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said: "The notion of a perpetual unionist majority has been demolished."
Its northern leader Michelle O'Neill is to lead talks to restore power-sharing.

She said: "The task is not easy, but it is achievable if people come at it with the right attitude."

Amid the fallout, Mike Nesbitt said he would resign as Ulster Unionist leader.