A record number of people spoiled their vote in the presidential election, with close to 13 per cent of the total ballot deemed invalid. The Irish Times conducted a call-out to hear from readers who had spoiled their vote, chosen not to vote or had voted for Jim Gavin as a “protest” vote. It didn’t feel like the right thing to do – but nothing Government or most of the Opposition parties did was right either – so Maria Steen got my number 1. Miriam, Dublin/LondonCurrently living in London, I still retain my vote, and I flew back to “spoil the vote”. Brighid, DublinI feel, and have felt, for quite some time as if I am invisible to the Irish political classes as a single middle-aged, middle-class woman.

Source: The Irish Times October 28, 2025 22:48 UTC