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Polls out of the polls suggest that the Republic of Ireland has voted for the repeal of the country's blasphemy laws.
The poll shows that 71% of voters surveyed said they voted in favor of removing the blasphemy reference from the Irish constitution.
Voters were also asked to decide who would become the Irish president.
The exit poll suggests that Michael D Higgins received 58% of preference votes and will be re-elected.
He is the first holder for 50 years to face a challenge in his candidacy for a second term.
The exit poll by Red C, Irish broadcaster RTÉ, also revealed that around 2% said they did not vote for the blasphemy referendum.
Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Liadh Ni Riada, Michael D Higgins and Sean Gallagher are competing for the election.
The participation rate would be low in many parts of the country.
The figures suggest that it could be comparable to the last presidential election of 2011.
More than 3.2 million people are eligible to vote in elections and referendums.
Voters received two ballot papers at polling stations.
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RTÉ
Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina vote in Dublin
They received a blank ballot for the presidential election and a green ballot for the blasphemy referendum.
Many were unaware that such an offense existed until a member of the public referred controversial remarks by actor and writer Stephen Fry on a RTÉ program to An Garda Siochana (Irish Police) . Mr. Fry spoke about what he saw as God's cruelty during the program.
But the case was dismissed when the gardai (policemen) could not find anyone offended.
The last person to be prosecuted for blasphemy dates back to 1855, when the British ruled Ireland.
Presidential candidates
The president is Ireland's "first citizen", but his power is limited – his role is mainly symbolic and he can not get involved in everyday politics.
In the presidential election, Mr. Higgins' rivals include:
- Liadh Ni Riada, MEP from Sinn Féin
- Senator Joan Freeman, mental health activist and founder of the Pieta House Association
- Sean Gallagher, a businessman who finished second seven years ago
- Gavin Duffy, a former broadcaster who is now working as a business man in the communications industry
- Peter Casey, a businessman born in Londonderry who made his fortune abroad
The three businessmen were all "dragons" in the Irish version of the Dragons & Den TV program.
Approximately 3,470 people were randomly polled at RTÉ's exit poll outside the 138 polls between 7:00 am and 9:30 pm on Friday.
The poll suggests that businessman Peter Casey will get 20.7% of the first vote of preference, while Liadh Ni Riada of Sinn Féin will get 7.4%, of which 6.3% for Senator Joan Freeman.
The poll suggests that businessman Seán Gallagher is at 5.5% and businessman Gavin Duffy at 2.0%.
The margin of error of the exit survey is between plus or minus 3%.
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RTÉ
Liadh Ní Riada and her husband Nicky at their polling station in Cork
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time and closed at 22:00.
The countdown in centers across the state will start on Saturday at 9:00.
The official result, expected Saturday night, will be announced at Dublin Castle.
