By Ger Molloy – The Irish Channel
The upcoming Irish presidential election on October 24, 2025, is set to be a contest between candidates, but an unprecedented swell of intentional spoilt votes threatens to make the protest ballot the most significant outcome. Political analysts are grappling with the anecdotal and statistical evidence suggesting a historic number of voters, disillusioned with the current political landscape and the available candidates, plan to register their displeasure by deliberately invalidating their vote.
A clear picture of rising voter frustration.
Anecdotal evidence from various quarters paints a clear picture of rising voter frustration. One respondent, speaking privately about their intentions, remarked that “everyone, even in their extended family including in-laws, had expressed their intention privately to spoil their vote.” This sense of collective rejection, particularly among those who would ordinarily vote, suggests a deep-seated disconnect between the electorate and the political class. The act of turning up to the polling station to spoil a ballot is widely understood as a more potent form of protest than simple abstention, as it is counted and recorded, sending a quantifiable message to the establishment.
A separate, more subversive movement is gaining traction.
This growing sentiment is being amplified by the success of various online campaigns. Although the Electoral Commission has run counter-campaigns to reduce accidental spoilt votes, citing the previous high of over 108,000 invalid ballots in the 2019 local and European elections, a separate, more subversive movement is gaining traction. Social media platforms are becoming hubs for discussion, debate, and guidance on how to intentionally spoil a ballot as a means of protest—for example, by drawing a picture, writing a clear message of discontent, or leaving the paper blank, ensuring the vote is rejected but counted as part of the total turnout.
A sizeable chunk—18%—of respondents said they would either spoil their vote or not vote at all
While the total number of non-voters (those who stay home) often dwarfs the spoilt vote figure, the symbolic weight of a massive number of deliberate spoilt ballots cannot be understated. A recent poll indicated that a sizeable chunk—18%—of respondents said they would either spoil their vote or not vote at all, signalling a notable chunk of the electorate is actively considering this protest. If this level of disillusionment translates into a record-breaking spoilt vote, it won’t just be an asterisk beside the winner’s name; it will be a profound and potentially catalytic event, forcing an overdue national conversation about candidate selection and the health of Ireland’s democracy.