“Over 200,000 people left the comfort of their own home and spoiled their votes purposefully in order to register a protest against how the presidential election was run” Aontu’s Peadar Tóibín has told this paper
In total, he said, “317,000 people either spoiled their votes or voted for a withdrawn candidate. Spoiled votes even “beat Heather Humphreys in a number of constituencies,” highlighting what he said is “the level of anger and frustration that exists.”
Mr Tóibín said that “half of the voters felt locked out having no choice.” Polls found that “49% of voters did not feel represented” and “55%…believe that the Constitution should be changed to make the nomination process easier.”
He said he was worried that when the media cycle moves on the parties will let reform slide and do nothing until the next election in seven years.
That’s why, he said, Aontú has since introduced a motion to lower the nomination threshold to 14 Oireachtas members through a referendum within the next 3 years and a new nomination pathway of 110 councillors, and reduces the council threshold to 3. The motion passed, creating “a democratic onus on the government to implement it so this never happens again” he said.
