Politics / Turnout slightly down by teatime
People have still a few hours to cast their vote in today’s general election.
Turnout by 5pm has been 30 per cent, slightly lower than two years ago when 33 per cent of voters had had cast their vote by teatime.
The turnout for the 3,000 Shetlanders who opted for the postal ballot has been 81 per cent, returning officer Jan Riise announce on Thursday afternoon.
Polling stations across the isles will be open until 10pm. The ballot boxes will then be flown by chartered aircraft to Orkney where the constituency count takes place.
The result for the northern isles is expected to be announced around 5am.
Meanwhile, Shetland News’ own travel arrangements to Kirkwall were thrown into doubt for a short period when the Loganair service to Aberdeen and onwards to Orkney went technical at Sumburgh airport late this afternoon.
The 16.35 service to Aberdeen eventually took off an hour late with the assurance given that the Kirkwall flight would be held back to allow people travelling to the election count be able to make the connection.
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