58% of Clare Fine Gael members are reported to have cast ballots in the party’s leadership election last night.
Local grassroots figures were among the last to vote in the contest, which will see the Parliamentary Party have their say today.
The votes will be counted this afternoon and barring a major upset it’s widely expected Leo Varadkar will become leader this evening.
The 73 TDs, Senators and MEPs have until midday to cast a vote, and Leo Varadkar’s maintained a strong lead in declarations of these from the start.
Under the electoral college system these votes are the most valuable accounting for 65% of the total.
Members and councillors who’ve voted over the past four nights around the country account for 25% and 10% of the total respectively.
They’ll all be counted this afternoon at Dublin’s mansion house and the declaration of the new leader will be made by teatime.
The new leader will then have to set about talks with Fianna Fáil and the Independents to secure their support in a vote for Taoiseach, likely in the Dáil on Tuesday week.
