Spaniards will be able to vote in the Eurovision final this Saturday, May 16, despite RTVE and four other public broadcasters withdrawing in protest over the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The televoting system, which sparked controversy in 2025 by benefiting Israel, has been modified. Citizens can participate through the global Rest of the World system, enabled for countries not members of the festival.
How the Rest of the World voting system works 🗳️
The Rest of the World system allows viewers from countries without a participating broadcaster to cast their vote through a unified digital platform. Technically, it is based on a centralized web portal that verifies the user's location via IP geolocation and mobile phone number. Each vote costs 0.99 euros and is processed in real time. The results are aggregated into a single block equivalent to one country's vote, with a weight of 50% in the total score, alongside the professional jury.
The paradox of voting without your country being in the festival 🤔
So RTVE withdraws to keep its hands clean, but you can vote from the couch with your phone. It's like your mom grounding you from dessert but leaving the fridge open. Sure, the vote costs 0.99 euros, which is cheaper than a frozen paella and probably just as satisfying. In the end, Eurovision always finds a way for everyone to participate... and pay.