Counting Chaos: Is Ireland’s Voting System Broken? With Seth Barrett Tillman

The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

In this episode of the podcast, Niall is joined by Professor Seth Barrett Tillman from Maynooth University’s Law and Criminology department to discuss Ireland’s proportional representation system and its impact on elections. With voters feeling increasingly disillusioned, Seth breaks down the mechanics of the system, its strengths, and its glaring flaws.

Seth challenges the idea that proportional representation always results in a fair outcome, explaining: “Proportional representation makes sure that minorities have at least a voice, even if they don’t really have an element of control.” He also highlights the stark voting disparities across the country, pointing out that in Kerry, a candidate needs over 13,000 votes to reach the quota, while in Dublin Central, it takes just 6,500. “That is, in my view, very unfair,” he states.

As the conversation unfolds, Seth and Niall debate whether low-quality votes deep in the count are undermining democracy, how the lack of transparency in Ireland’s system obscures accountability, and why the electoral structure favors urban constituencies over rural voters. They also touch on international comparisons, from the U.S. Electoral College to mandatory voting in Australia.

Niall shares his own frustrations from running in the European elections, comparing the convoluted counting system to the ‘pub debate logic’ of a World Cup qualifier—where one team's fate depends on a complex mix of other results. Meanwhile, Seth explores whether shifting from population-based representation to voter-based constituencies could bring a fairer balance to Ireland’s political landscape.

Is the system broken, or is it simply misunderstood? Would Ireland benefit from a two-party system, or is coalition politics the best we can hope for? And more importantly—should you really be allowed to win a seat because someone thought you "looked nice"? Tune in for a fascinating deep dive into the heart of Ireland’s electoral process.