We’re doing this because a core promise of Irish democracy — genuine choice and competition of ideas — has been trashed.
When nomination rules are used as gatekeeping to shut out conservative, nationalist voices, the result is a ballot that misrepresents the country.
Spoiling our vote records that we’re here, we’re registered, and we refuse what’s on offer.
We are a citizen-led, non-partisan protest movement demanding real choice on Ireland’s ballot.
We oppose the gatekeeping that left us with no choice on the ballot. A conservative, nationalist voice has been blocked, leaving voters with government- and left-only options.
We act lawfully and peacefully, and we will not be silenced. We welcome collaboration with individuals and like-minded civic groups.
On a daily basis leading up to the Presidential Election we will be posting the latest news from the campaign including.
If you're spoiling your vote, make a short video statement of your pledge to do so, then drop us the link to your post here and our team of influencers will give it a like and a share. You wont be alone!
We have prepared stand out branding for social media banners and icons so you can customize your own social media profile for the week or even the day, showing your support for our campaign.
As a citizen led movement we would love to hear and see your ideas and content for Spoil The Vote so please do drop us a line with your details and we'll do our best to give you work and effort a boost.
Yes. It’s absolutely legal in Ireland to cast a ballot that’s later ruled spoilt/invalid. Such spoiled votes aren’t counted for any candidate but they are are recorded and reported separately at the count.
Important Note:
Don’t photograph a marked ballot or take selfies in the booth—polling staff won’t allow it as it risks breaching ballot secrecy and can be an offence.
Here’s the simple difference:
Staying home = invisible. You’re not counted in turnout, and no one knows why you didn’t vote. It can be written off as bad weather, apathy, or being busy.
Spoiling your vote = visible. You show up, you’re counted in turnout, and your ballot is recorded as spoilt/invalid in the official results. That number is reported publicly, so if many do it, it’s a clear, measurable signal that people rejected the choices—not democracy itself.
So if you want your protest to register, don’t sit it out—go, spoil, and be counted.
No. Don’t photograph your marked ballot or take pictures inside a polling station. Irish elections are by secret ballot, and sharing an image that reveals how you or anyone else voted can breach that secrecy and may be an offence. The law’s secrecy rules are set out in the Electoral Act 1992 (see “Breach of secrecy,” s.137). Irish Statute Book
Officials and media have repeatedly warned “no selfies in the booth” for this reason; offenders risk prosecution and, in serious cases, fines or even jail. If you want to post, do it outside without showing a marked ballot. For practical voting guidance, see Citizens Information; for contemporary warnings about ballot selfies, see coverage from the Irish Examiner and Independent.ie. citizensinformation.ie
Each count centre reports its figures to the Presidential Returning Officer, and the national total of spoilt/invalid ballots is published with the official result at the National Count Centre (Dublin Castle). For example, the official 2018 result listed **“Spoiled votes: 18,438.” Article
On this occasion of the Presidential Election, rest assured, the number of spoiled votes will be very publicly visible and known.
Effective date: 5 October 2025
Website: https://spoilthevote.ie (the “Site”)
Owner: Spoil The Vote (“we”, “us”, “our”)
Contact: info@spoilthevote.ie
By using this Site, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
We operate this Site to share information and updates about our organisation and its activities. See our Privacy Policy to learn how we handle personal data.
You agree to:
We may suspend or block access if we believe these Terms are breached.
Content is for general information. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. You should seek professional advice before relying on information.
We try to keep content accurate and the Site available, but we do not guarantee completeness, accuracy, or uninterrupted availability. We may change, remove, or suspend content or features at any time.
If you create an account or subscribe:
If the Site allows comments or submissions (“User Content”):
Do not post private information about others without consent.
Unless stated otherwise, the Site’s text, graphics, logos, and design are our property or used with permission and are protected by law. You may link to our pages and share excerpts with credit, but do not copy, republish, or exploit our content without permission.
If you believe your copyright is infringed, contact us with details (URL, description, and proof of ownership).
The Site may link to or embed third-party sites and services. We are not responsible for their content, policies, or availability. Use them at your own risk.
Your use of the Site is subject to our Privacy Policy and (if applicable) our Cookie Policy. Please read them.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of data, business, or profits arising from your use of the Site. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Site is limited to €50.
Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or anything else that cannot be excluded under Irish law.
You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from claims, damages, costs, and expenses arising from your breach of these Terms or misuse of the Site.
The Site is intended for users aged 16+. If you are under 16, please do not submit personal data or use interactive features.
We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted here with a new effective date. If changes are significant, we may notify subscribers by email.
These Terms and any dispute or claim arising from them are governed by the laws of Ireland, and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
Questions about these Terms? Email info@spoilthevote.ie
Effective date: 5th October 2025
Who we are: Spoil The Vote (“we”, “us”, “our”)
Website: https://www.yourdomain.ie
Contact: privacy@spoilthevote.ie
We respect your privacy and collect as little personal data as possible. This policy explains what we collect, why, how long we keep it, and your rights.
We do not intentionally collect special-category data (e.g., political opinions). Please don’t include such data in free-text fields. If we inadvertently receive it (e.g., in your message), we’ll rely on your explicit consent or delete/redact it.
We don’t use your data for automated decisions or profiling.
We use Independent Analytics for WordPress to measure page views and traffic sources. It does not use cookies and does not store personally identifiable information. Analytics data is created and stored on our own server. We use these metrics to understand which pages are useful and to improve the site. No data is sent to third-party analytics platforms.
If we add any analytics or marketing tools in future that set non-essential cookies or involve third-party tracking, we will update this policy and display a cookie consent banner before those load.
We don’t sell your data. We share limited data with service providers acting on our instructions to run the site. They must keep it secure, use it only for our purposes, and comply with GDPR. The categories of recipients are:
If required by law, we may disclose data to competent authorities.
Some providers (now or in future) may process data outside the EEA/UK. Where that happens, we use appropriate safeguards (e.g., EU Standard Contractual Clauses and supplementary measures). You can contact us for more information about international transfers or our current processors.
We delete or anonymise data when retention ends.
You can: access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to certain processing; withdraw consent (e.g., unsubscribe); and request data portability.
Email privacy@spoilthevote.ie to exercise rights—we may need to verify your identity. You can complain to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland; we’d appreciate the chance to resolve issues first.
Our website is for adults. We don’t knowingly collect data from children under 16. If you think a child has provided data, contact us and we’ll delete it.
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures (e.g., TLS/HTTPS, access controls, minimisation, regular updates) to protect your data. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to prevent unauthorised access and disclosure.
Our site may link to other websites or display embedded content (e.g., social posts, videos). Those services have their own privacy practices. If any embed would set non-essential cookies, we’ll block it by default and ask for your consent first.
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be noted on this page with a new effective date. If changes significantly affect you, we’ll notify subscribers by email.
Email: privacy@spoilthevote.ie
