LONDON: Eurovision organizers are considering significant changes to the contest’s public voting system in an effort to curb politically motivated voting and prevent coordinated influence campaigns, the BBC reported on Friday.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the Eurovision Song Contest, has proposed moving entirely to online public voting and requiring viewers to select multiple favorite entries rather than concentrating their votes on a single performer.
Under the current system, viewers can cast up to 10 votes for their preferred act. The proposed changes would eliminate text-message voting and prevent individuals from repeatedly voting for the same contestant.
EBU Warns of Persistent Politically Motivated Voting
In a letter circulated to participating broadcasters, the EBU said the geopolitical climate was increasingly influencing Eurovision voting, with political considerations sometimes overshadowing artistic performances.
The union said such voting was not unprecedented in Eurovision history, but had become “persistent” and “deeply worrying.”
“We believe that these changes will help dilute the effect of a mobilised block vote, without compromising fairness or trust,” the EBU said in the letter.
The EBU said its research had pointed to two key reforms: moving the public vote completely online and requiring voters to support more than one entry, potentially their three favorite acts.
The union later confirmed to the BBC that it had begun examining a fully online audience-voting system, with further details expected to be announced in the coming months.
Israel Voting Controversy Fuels Scrutiny
Debate over Eurovision’s voting rules intensified following last year’s contest, when the Israeli government urged supporters to vote repeatedly for the country’s representative, Yuval Raphael.
Raphael’s song, “New Day Will Rise,” finished 15th with the professional juries but received 297 points from the public vote—the highest tally among all competing entries. The result propelled Raphael to an overall second-place finish and prompted questions from several broadcasters over the scale of the public support.
Social media posts by Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, encouraging supporters to cast multiple votes for Raphael were cited as contributing to the controversy.
In response, the EBU reduced the maximum number of votes a person could cast to 10 for this year’s competition. It also issued a formal warning to Israeli broadcaster Kan after it aired material encouraging viewers to “vote 10 times for Israel.” The EBU ordered the content removed, saying it was not consistent with “the spirit of the competition.”
Sponsor Ends Six-Year Eurovision Partnership
Meanwhile, Israeli cosmetics company Moroccanoil has ended its sponsorship of Eurovision after six years. The haircare brand had provided professional styling teams and products for contestants throughout the competition.
No reason was given for the termination of the partnership.
Organizers Tighten Rules Over Geopolitical Conflicts
The latest voting proposals come amid broader efforts by Eurovision organizers to address the impact of international conflicts on the contest.
Earlier this week, Eurovision organizers announced that broadcasters could become ineligible to host the competition if their countries are involved in armed conflict or face particularly sensitive geopolitical circumstances.
The proposed voting reforms are intended to strengthen the credibility and perceived neutrality of the contest while ensuring that Eurovision results are determined primarily by audience preferences for musical performances rather than organized political campaigns.
BY: The Times Union
