Fine Gael is on course to lead the next Government, according to the first count of a poll conducted among Irish emigrants.
The poll was carried out over ten days on www.ballotbox.ie.
5,580 Irish emigrants in 124 different countries voted in the poll. IP technology was used to block voters in Ireland, and passport information was used to discourage non-Irish people from voting. This is the first time such a poll has been attempted.
The aim was to highlight that Irish emigrants are immediately disenfranchised upon leaving the country. This is in stark contrast to many other democracies, including the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, and most EU countries.
In the poll, Enda Kenny's party won 30 per cent of first preference votes, with the Labour party on 25 per cent. Independents form the next largest group with 18 per cent of first preference votes. Sinn Féin is on 13 per cent, with Fianna Fáil and the Greens tied in last position at 8 per cent.
Fine Gael got 58 per cent on the first count in Meath West, the party's best result. Its worst result was in Dublin North West with 14 per cent.
Limerick saw the best turnout for Fianna Fáil , where the party received 20 per cent on the first count. Fianna Fail saw its worst results in Kerry North and Dublin Mid West with just 2 per cent.
Sinn Féin enjoyed 58 per cent of first preferences in Donegal South West, and 40 per cent in Louth, where party Leader Gerry Adams is running.
Labour's best result was in Dublin North West with 44 per cent, and its worst was seven per cent in Donegal South West.
The best results for Independents was 39 per cent of first preference votes in Wexford.
Three per cent of voters spoiled their ballot.
Ballotbox.ie was founded by emigrants Brian Reynolds and John Byrne in Toronto, Canada. It was executed in Dublin by Joe McCarthy of Arkaon and Usna Tunney, Turlough Rynn and Dom Muldoon at Pointblank.ie. The site is run entirely by volunteers and has no political affiliations.
An estimated 3.1 million Irish passport holders live abroad, with 800,000 being Irish-born. Nearly 28,000 citizens left Ireland in the year ending April 2010, and at least 60,000 have left in the last three years.