Amman, Oct. 24 (Petra)-- Irish voters headed to the polls on Friday to elect the country’s tenth president, according to local media reports.

The reports said that around 3.5 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with polling stations opening at 7:00 a.m. local time (GMT+1).

The race has narrowed to a direct contest between two candidates: independent contender Catherine Connolly, who has the backing of left-wing and nationalist opposition parties, and Heather Humphreys, the Fine Gael party candidate and former minister in the most recent coalition government.

Vote counting is expected to begin on Saturday after polls close at 10:00 p.m. Friday. The newly elected president will officially take office during a ceremony scheduled for November 11.

//Petra// MF