Fergus Finlay: Is the 'spoil your vote' campaign loony or something more sinister?

I can think of nothing less democratic than spending resources on trying to persuade people to waste their vote

A group campaign outside Leinster House for people to spoil their vote in the upcoming presidential election. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Imagine this for just a second. It’s polling day. You have your polling card in your pocket, and you’ve brought some identification, just in case. But when you get to the polling station, there’s a big burly guy blocking your way in. There’s a bulge under his jacket that looks suspiciously like a gun in a holster.

“You don’t need to come in here,” he says. “It’s ok. You can go home, have a cup of tea. We’ll make the decision for you and fill in your ballot paper. You’re not needed.”