Welcome
We Made Our Vote Roar
Why
Why we spoiled our vote?
We did this because a core promise of Irish democracy — genuine choice and competition of ideas — was trashed.
When nomination rules were used as gatekeeping to shut out conservative, nationalist voices, the result was a ballot that misrepresented the country.
Spoiling our vote recorded that we we present, registered, and we refused what was on offer.
Who
Who are the people behind Spoil The Vote?
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.
The people have spoken - not in whispers, but in a thunderous roar.
Stay tuned
Check back with us for the latest news and events
On a daily basis leading up to the Presidential Election we will be posting the latest news from the campaign including.
What's next?
Spoil The Vote will now channel our momentum into a national campaign for a referendum to reform the presidential nomination rules.
Testimonial
What our organisers said
Then this is the point #Spoilthevote
It’ll change everything
Their shenanigans to game the system will backfire spectacularly.
#SpoilTheVote - The only choice
Spoil the Vote is the Roar of Rebuke.
I will be spoiling my vote
-Never Again
Common Questions
Most Popular Questions
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.