Referenced repeatedly on spoiled ballots
For many, the record number of protest votes was a clear signal to the government that a huge section of the electorate feel disenfranchised and unrepresented.
“They didn’t feel represented on the ballot.”
“This is a resigning moment for Simon Harris”: Declan Ganley, Senator Sharon Keogan and Elaine Mullally, who were involved with the #SpoilTheVote campaign, react to the 2025 Presidential election results.
Roderic O’Gorman says there was a “strong” number of votes spoiled for Maria Steen, and says it’s worth having a conversation about whether the Presidential nomination process needs to be changed.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik says the campaign to spoil your ballot in the Presidential election is “profoundly anti-democratic”, while Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the number of spoiled ballots is “really worrying”.
Simon Harris on the Presidential election: “I think it is regrettable that there were only two candidates on the ballot.”
Presidential election.
“There was very clearly a campaign as well to encourage people not to use their vote correctly…”: Fine Gael Deputy Leader Helen McEntee reacts to the record number of spoilt ballots in the 2025 Presidential election.
“Congratulations.”
“It’s a wonderful democracy that we have.”
“Seismic”: Spoilt ballots in the Irish Presidential election appear to be unprecedentedly high, tallies indicate – even outpacing Heather Humphreys in some parts of the country.