Voters in Ireland registered their dissatisfaction in dramatic fashion during the October 25th presidential election, with a record 213,738 ballots — or about 12.9 % of those cast — deemed invalid after a campaign encouraged voters to spoil their vote in protest.

The turnout stood at approximately 45.8 %, matching the low participation rate of the previous contest.

The campaign branded “Spoil The Vote” was launched in mid-October by eight right-wing and centrist-right figures, including entrepreneur Declan Ganley and financial commentator Eddie Hobbs.

They argued that the choice on the ballot — limited to just two candidates, Catherine Connolly (left) and Heather Humphreys (centre-right) — failed to represent voices such as Maria Steen and other right-wing contenders who did not secure nomination.

Connolly won a decisive victory, capturing 63.3 % of valid first-preference votes while Humphreys secured 29.5 %.

Despite the landslide outcome, the high rate of spoiled ballots was viewed as a visible expression of public frustration with the perceived lack of choice and the political establishment, rather than an outright rejection of one candidate.

In some Dublin constituencies the spoiled-vote share surpassed 20 %, far exceeding the historical baseline of around 1 % in previous presidential elections.

Analysts say the protest tactic will not alter the outcome — Irish law counts only valid votes — but its scale has caused concern among parties and triggered calls for reform of the nomination process that selects presidential contenders.

The results underscore growing voter disengagement and the potency of coordinated protest activity in Ireland’s electoral landscape.

While the next seven-year presidency is secured, the implications for the country’s major parties may be longer-lasting: the spoiled-ballot movement demonstrated that turnout and legitimacy can no longer be taken for granted.