#spoiltvotes
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powersflowers.bsky.social
Catherine Connolly will be elected as Ireland’s next president. The second news item at present is the vast number of spoiled votes.

My thoughts on spoiled votes in the ALT TEXT OF THE PHOTO

#aras25 #aras2025 #spoiledvotes #spoiltvotes #speirgorm #Spéirghorm
Over the last week, social media posts have quoted a letter to the Irish Times that says a spoiled vote counts as nothing, that certain groups have fought hard for the right to vote and that, ergo, a spoiled vote is the equivalence of silence. I feel this is a simplistic way of looking at it. In Ireland, all votes are counted. Spoiled votes are counted, along with votes for legitimate candidates. In the final tally, all votes — including spoiled votes — are reported. Those who spoil their votes are sending a message that some aspect of the election is unsatisfactory. In this election, for example, one of the three candidates on the ballot withdrew weeks ago. It is ridiculous to some voters that his name is still on the paper. Also, some felt that the two remaining candidates offered such a poor choice that it galled them to vote for either. Some wrote in their own choice, even though it voided the ballot’s legitimacy. It takes an effort to spoil your vote. You have to go to the polling station (instead of staying home and griping) and you have to perform an action that goes against the human tendency to take sides and to be part of a recognised cohort. It is not mindless vandalism. Some argue that it is troublemakers, jokers and begrudgers who spoil votes. Sure, a certain number of those who spoil their votes are doing it for badness. But, some of those are people who never set foot in a polling booth before. It’s possible that they quite liked making their marks, whatever they were, on a ballot paper. It’s possible that we now have some new voters for the next election. Good! Democracy happens in odd ways. A spoiled vote is a sure way for dissatisfied voters to make their voices heard. It is an important and visible indicator of public opinion. This election has a comparatively large percentage of spoiled votes. Political parties and media are paying a lot of attention to this fact. In summary: **Yesterday’s spoiled votes convey anything but silence**
October 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
charlesmossman.bsky.social
There is no doubt in my mind that the governing parties in Ireland are to blame for the huge number of #spoiltvotes . They whipped their TDs and local councillors to not approve potential candidates other than their own and they chose very poor candidates in Gavin and Humphries.
October 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM