The Progressive Democrats party will unveil its new leader early tomorrow morning, it said today.
The new leader will give his or her first press conference in Dublin at 9.30am following the announcement of the result.
It had originally been planned to announce the result today after voting closed on Monday evening but it was postponed as a mark of respect for former president Dr Patrick Hillery whose State funeral is taking place.
Senators Fiona O'Malley and Ciarán Cannon were the only candidates contesting the postal ballot.
The outcome will be decided by an electoral college featuring the four parliamentary party members (40 per cent), councillors and national executive (30 per cent) and the party's membership (30 per cent). A total of 3,900 members are eligible to vote.
Ms O’Malley, a former TD and the daughter of party founder Des O’Malley, has pledged to rid the PDs of what she called the "right-wing 'uncaring' tag" by becoming the party for working people.
Mr Cannon has called for an overhaul of the party’s structure so that a “new and resurgent” PDs can set the agenda for the next 20 years.
Michael McDowell resigned the leadership of the party after losing his Dáil seat last year, and former leader and Minster for Health Mary Harney has been acting leader since then.
Ms Harney praised Ms O'Malley and Mr Cannon as two "extraordinarily committed" members of the Seanad but did not indicate which candidate she was supporting in the race to become the fourth PD leader.
The election count is being conducted by auditors Baker, Tilly, Ryan, Glennon.
