Eurovision Proposes New Voting Rules to Reduce Political Influence

## Voting System Under Scrutiny The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is proposing significant changes to the voting system in the Eurovision Song Contest. The move aims to reduce the influence of politically motivated voting, which has become a persistent issue in the competition. Under the current system, viewers can vote up to 10 times for their favourite act by phone, text message, or online. However, the EBU believes that this system is being exploited by some countries to influence the results. In 2025, the Israeli government encouraged fans to register multiple votes for the country's contestant, leading to concerns about the integrity of the competition. ## Proposed Changes The EBU is considering two main changes to the voting system. Firstly, it plans to move the vote entirely online, making it easier to track and prevent multiple votes for the same country. Secondly, it will require viewers to select their top three acts, rather than allowing them to vote multiple times for a single contestant. The EBU believes that these changes will help dilute the effect of a mobilized block vote without compromising fairness or trust. However, the proposals have already sparked controversy, with some broadcasters questioning the need for such drastic changes. ## Israeli Government's Role The issue of politically motivated voting has been highlighted by the Israeli government's actions in 2025. The government encouraged fans to vote for the country's contestant, Yuval Raphael, who ultimately finished as the overall runner-up. However, an investigation by the EBU found that the government's actions were in breach of the competition's rules. The EBU has since taken steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, including reducing the maximum number of votes to 10 and issuing a formal warning to the Israeli broadcaster, Kan, for promoting voting campaigns. ## Sponsor Pulls Out The controversy surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest has also led to the withdrawal of a major sponsor. Israeli cosmetics company Moroccan Oil has ended its six-year partnership with the competition, citing no reason for the decision. The news comes amid a flurry of developments for the 70-year-old contest. The EBU has announced new rules for participating countries, including a ban on hosting the event if their state is involved in an armed conflict or sensitive geopolitical situation. The minimum age for participating singers has also been raised from 16 to 18, and stricter rules have been introduced around the use of pre-recorded vocals. The 71st edition of the competition will take place from 12 to 15 May, 2027, in the Bulgarian coastal town of Burgas.