countries participating eurovision song contest

How to Vote in Eurovision

Voting in the Eurovision Song Contest is a crucial part of the show and allows viewers to influence the final outcome. However, the rules can sometimes be a bit confusing, so here’s a breakdown of how it works:

Who Can Vote?

Viewers in all participating countries can vote in the Grand Final. Importantly, you cannot vote for your own country’s entry. This rule is in place to prevent home advantage influencing the results.

When Can You Vote?

Voting usually opens after the last song has been performed in the Grand Final. A recap of all the performances will be shown, and then a voting window of around 15-40 minutes will open, during which you can cast your vote.

How to Vote: The Methods

There are usually two main methods of voting:

Telephone Voting: Each participating song will have a unique telephone number assigned to it. This number will be displayed on screen throughout the voting window, along with the song’s order number. To vote, simply dial the number from your phone. Mobile and landline calls typically count, but check with your local telephone provider as charges may apply. Some countries may offer free voting via a specific freephone number. Be aware that automated or bulk voting might be flagged and discounted.
SMS Voting: Similar to telephone voting, each song will have a specific SMS code. To vote, text this code to the designated shortcode number. This information will also be displayed on screen. Standard text messaging rates apply. As with telephone voting, automated SMS voting can be detected and discounted.

Check your local television broadcast and the official Eurovision website (eurovision.tv) for the specific voting numbers and codes in your country. These will be clearly displayed during the broadcast.

How Many Times Can You Vote?

Each country usually sets a limit on the number of times you can vote from a single phone number or SIM card. This limit is generally between 10 and 20 votes. Again, check the information provided during the broadcast or on the official Eurovision website to confirm the limit in your specific country.

The Jury Vote

It’s important to remember that the public vote only accounts for 50% of the final score. The other 50% comes from a professional jury in each participating country. These juries are made up of music industry professionals, and they rank the songs based on criteria such as vocal ability, song composition, originality, stage presentation, and overall impression. The combination of the public vote and the jury vote determines the final winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.