Some people spoil votes as a political statement, while others do it as a form of protest.
Well in this year's election, 18,438 votes of the 1,473,900 were spoiled and threw up some interesting comments and names.
Messages on the ballot papers across the country ranged from the political to the bizarre.
Some people scrawled 'A Waste Of Tax Payers Money' and 'No To Abortion' across their papers.
Others suggested alternative candidates, such as hunger striker Bobby Sands, Dustin The Turkey and Dublin football manager Jim Gavin.
