We've enjoyed X Factor BGT and Pop Idol type shows over the years as a family and it's been fun having 1 vote each (3in total) every week until a year or so ago when we stopped voting all together. Why? Rigged voting... cost (I'm the tight fisted bill payer) but mostly the fact that some viewers vote 10, 20, 30+ times. Absolutely ridiculous and a mockery of voting. Why can't a limit be put on the amount of times a phone number can vote. The technology exists. The results would then be fairer and more accurate BUT... money, profit & greed decree that it will never happen. Any support for the limit idea?

They have a limit of 10 votes per voting method in American Idol, but it didnt help .The "State" vote that won it for Kris (if you believe this - I am not saying it is a fact, just that it seems to be generally accepted that it happened) still went ahead because if you are willing to spend the money, you can achieve a lot.

But, I think a number of votes per phone number would make it fairer. You couldnt say one vote per number because you may have several family members wanting to have their say, but you could limit it to 10 like above.

Maybe its time to change the format of the end game - I'm not sure how though. Maybe if the judges pick the bottom 2 and then the vote is for who you want out. They probably wouldnt do that either because they want all the money.

I think we will just have to live with it. To be honest, I am past caring who wins, the truly talented will all have careers and if a crap contestant wins they will lose their contract like Leon and Steve did. (Sorry, I actually quite liked Leon, but Rhydian should SO have won that year based solely on talent)

Its time to maybe stop taking it so seriously. I know you can't moan about who goes home if you don't vote- but if we all stopped voting because we think its a farce, maybe it will change.

But I doubt it. Because the majority of people who vote will continue to do so, no matter how outrageous the outcome.

You've hit all the nails on the head Lizzy. Not much more to say on this one other than to remind folks that it will never be a regular or fair vote unless some limits/controls are put on the number of votes from individual phone nos. Until then... keep on voting till your hands are blue, you've run out of credit or you've realised you've just paid for another bulk order of high waisted diamond studded pants for Mr Cowell!

I don't think that's very fair. If people want to vote 100 times, they should be allowed to. They're paying the phone bill.

What if you lived in a house where people wanted to vote for lots of different acts? 6 of us in my house and we rarely agree.

You can't put a limit on the number of votes people cast on a show like X Factor, it's not the general election. It's up to the individual if they wanna ring up once or 500 times.

I disagree 100%, it will never give a fair picture of what the voting public actually want. If you vote 100 times and I vote once then it would give you such a sway my vote is worth than useless. If everyone one votes once then we can get a more accurate reading of what people actually want.

Completely agree.

I totally disagree with that big time! I have no objection to each phone no. being capped at 10 votes which would be ok with your situation... and if you all felt strongly enough about different acts you could all vote 10 more times from your own mobiles! But NO WAY is it fair that someone who has the time and the money to vote as many times as you suggest be allowed to (you're probably not the bill payer). That is a type of voting BULLYING!! Who shouts loudest or votes the most gets their own way!!! Not good at all IMO. In effect what you're agreeing with is if Louis Walsh pays 100 suckers to continually vote for J & E they could eventually win the competition... if that's what you want... then enjoy the show