Counting never got underway in the County Westmeath local election today – after the ballot papers never arrived at the count centre in Moate.
They were separated from the European and referendum votes in Athlone Institute of Technology earlier and were due to arrive at the count centre by 6pm.
With no sign of them by 9pm, the count staff were sent home.
Returning officer Ciaron Martin told Midlands 103 that their whereabouts remains a mystery.
“In the absence of ballot papers arriving over to me from the local European returning officer, I have made the call, in fairness to the candidates who have been waiting here and also my staff who have been waiting here, to adjourn until 9am tomorrow morning.
He said the missing papers are a “matter for the local returning officer.”
Either way it means no-one will be elected to Westmeath County council tonight.
