NI voters head to polls for snap election after divisive campaign
Voting has begun in Northern Ireland in the region's second election in the last 10 months following the collapse of power sharing at Stormont six weeks ago.
The NI Assembly was dissolved in December following the resignation of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness in response to First Minister Arlene Foster's handling of the Renewable Heating Incentive, which is estimated to have cost the taxpayer £400m.
McGuinness had been the Deputy First Minister and the nature of the power sharing agreement in Belfast meant that his resignation and subsequent non-nomination of a successor brought down the government.
The issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has reared its head again, particularly with regard to how it would be affected by Britain's exit from the European Union.
The lead-up to the snap election has been a fractious one, with leaders of the main parties engaging in a tense television debate on Tuesday, including new Sinn Fein head Michelle O'Neill.
The DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP and Alliance were all represented at the BBC debate, clashing over issues such as the RHI scandal and cross-community voting, with O'Neill saying that she would not enter into a government which Foster was a part of.
"I cannot go into government with Arlene Foster, in the position of first or deputy first minister, whilst there is a cloud hanging over her," the SF leader said.
Foster has defended her actions relating to the RHI scandal, which occurred during her time as the minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
"Would it not have been more intelligent, would it not have been better to have had the public inquiry first and then had the election? Because then we would have had the full facts for everybody to make a judgement," Foster said during the debate.
Stormont will operate on a reduced basis of five MLAs per constituency with a total of 90 Assembly members being elected, down from 108 after a decision to cut back on political costs.
While the DUP is predicted to come out on top as the largest party in NI once again, polls suggest that the nationalist SF will close the gap further.