A general election is anticipated to be held in Ireland in May, in the Twenty-Six counties that presently constitute the Republic of Ireland. There are thirty-two counties in the whole country, but six of them are partitioned from the other twenty-six and have remained under British rule for the past eighty odd years.

Voters in a select number of Dublin constituencies will test a new electronic voting system when they go to the polls.

Voters will register at polling stations but rather than being handed ballot papers they will be issued numbered tickets. The electronic voting machine which they will use comes in a compact unit, contained in a suitcase, which opens up to form a cubicle and presents them with a touch screen on which to cast their votes.

The screen will show each candidate's name, with a photograph of the candidate. Voters can touch a circle opposite their chosen candidate. They will also have an option to abstain, but will not be able to spoil ballots.

It is expected that in each constituency full results will be available within an hour of the poll closing.

This will be a remarkable achievement in a country which uses the proportional representation election system whereby voters can cast ballots for their second, third, fourth or more preferred candidates, with transferable ballots being assigned to determine winners in multiple-seat constituencies.

The new system will be closely monitored and, if successful, will be used country-wide in all constituencies in local elections due to be held in 2004.

Traditionalists, no doubt, will miss the passing of an era when election counts proceeded all night, and in some cases lasted days before final results were announced.