Vote splitting

Vote splitting occurs when two or more candidates with similar platforms compete against each other in an election, leading to a division of votes. This situation can benefit a candidate with differing views, as they may win with a lower overall share of votes. For instance, if two candidates representing the same political ideology each receive 30% of the votes, while a third candidate with a different stance receives 40%, the first two candidates may unintentionally enable the third candidate's victory by splitting the vote among their supporters. This can impact the outcome of elections significantly.