Eurovision proposes new rules to tackle mass voting

Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest are seeking to curb politically motivated voting with a suite of proposed rule changes. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has suggested a move to a fully online voting system, where the public would select their top three acts instead of casting multiple votes for a single favorite.

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politically motivated voting had become "persistent" and was seen by many as "deeply worrying"

This initiative stems from persistent concerns about "politically motivated voting" and "mobilised block votes," which the EBU acknowledges are seen as "deeply worrying." The current system, allowing viewers to vote up to 10 times via phone, text, or online, has faced intense scrutiny. Allegations surfaced regarding coordinated campaigns to boost the votes for Israel's 2025 contestant, Yuval Raphael, who significantly outperformed other participants in the public vote despite a lower jury score.

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We believe that these changes will... help dilute the effect of a mobilised block vote, without compromising fairness or trust

While the EBU had previously reduced the maximum number of votes to 10 and issued a formal warning to Israeli broadcaster Kan for encouraging multiple votes, the latest proposals aim for a more fundamental shift. The EBU believes these changes will help dilute the impact of such block voting without compromising fairness. Details on the transition to wholly online voting are expected in the coming months, as the organization seeks to preserve the contest's integrity amidst a complex geopolitical climate.

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We can confirm that we have begun investigating a move to wholly online audience voting for the Eurovision Song Contest and more details will be announced in the months ahead.