Split Vote

A Split Vote is a strategy employed in Survivor by alliances at Tribal Council, in an attempt to avoid one of their own being voted out by the use of a Hidden Immunity Idol. The strategy involves the alliance(s) casting an equal or near-equal number of votes on two different members of an opposing alliance or individual targets, theoretically ensuring that one of them is voted out regardless of whom the idol is played on. In order for the split vote to work, the alliance must control two-thirds of the votes at Tribal Council.

The split vote was originally devised by Cao Boi Bui in the episode, but the Aitutaki tribe opted to vote Cao Boi out rather than attempt a risky move that could have eliminated a strong physical competitor. The strategy was not used until the following season,, where the Ravu tribe split a vote between Sylvia Kwan and Anthony Robinson, to eliminate Sylvia.

Split Vote Strategy
Any alliance with the numbers to do so can hypothetically split votes successfully; however, the strategy is not used unless there is a reason to suspect one of the targets has an idol.

The split vote is a risky strategy because it makes it easier for a supposed alliance member to renege from the alliance and vote out a loyal member. If there are an unequal number of people voting for each side of the split, care must be taken to lessen the impact of a single "flip" against the alliance.

Countering the Split Vote
The primary target of a split vote may still be able to survive the Tribal Council, resulting in the secondary target being voted out:
 * Uses a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating all votes against them (first attempted in, first succeeded in )
 * Votes against the secondary target – this can only succeed if the splitting alliance has an equal number of people voting for each target (first attempted in, successfully)
 * In seasons where the Extra Vote advantage is in play, it can be used to counter an attempted split vote. To date, no holder of this advantage has used it for this purpose.

Successful Split Votes
This list compiles successful split votes. For a split vote to qualify as successful, one of the two targets must be voted out (after a revote if necessary) regardless of which target plays the idol. If the targeted alliance has two idols, a split vote can be unsuccessful even with this guideline. In order to avoid a potential tie, Rita Verreos voted against Earl Cole instead of one of the two intended targets.

The original intent was for the entire alliance to vote for Corinne, as she was the only vulnerable member of the minority Onion Alliance. However, Crystal Cox and Ken Hoang split their votes between Corinne and Matty to ensure that Matty would be voted out instead of another member of the majority if Corinne played an idol.

The original intent was for the entire alliance to split the vote between Vytas and Katie 4-3. However, Monica Culpepper and Laura Morett, members of the alliance who were both assigned to vote against Katie, voted against Vytas instead, making the split 6-1.

The original intent was for the entire alliance to split the vote between Val and Baylor 3-3, with Josh Canfield meant to vote against Baylor. However, Josh switched his vote to Val, making the split 4-2 instead.

The main target was Dale (who had a fake idol) due to him being the outsider of the alliance. However, they chose affiliate Keith as the secondary target, and he did have an idol.

The original intent was for the alliance to split the vote between Keith and Wes 4-3. Alec Christy and Reed Kelly voted against Jon Misch instead (making it 4 votes against Jon) but Jon used his own idol, keeping the split vote successful. Jon received 4 votes that did not count, while Keith received 3 votes that did not count.

The primary target was Keith, with the alliance planning to split the vote between him and Alec 3-2; however, Natalie Anderson switched her vote to Alec. Combined with Keith's own vote for Alec, this resulted in Alec's elimination.

Failed Split Votes
This list includes Tribal Councils where the split voting alliance(s) actually attempted the split, but failed due to some members of the alliance reneging, if all members of the opposing alliance are immune (therefore losing one of their own or someone not from the target alliance) and/or splits that didn't ensure that one of the targets would be eliminated if an idol was used on one of them. This does not include proposed splits the tribe as a whole did not intend to follow through with.

The original intent of the split vote was for Tyson to vote against Russell to split the votes 3-3 between Russell and Parvati. However, Tyson voted for Parvati instead, ironically resulting in his own elimination.

Eddie received four votes that did not count, while Malcolm received two votes that did not count.

The original intent of the split vote was for Gervase and Tyson to vote against Laura M. and for Monica to vote against Ciera to split the votes between the two. However, Gervase, Tyson, and Monica sided with the Singles Alliance to vote against Aras instead.

The original intent was to get Kass & Woo to renege from the Solana Alliance, then have Kass & Tasha vote against Trish and Spencer & Woo vote against Tony. Kass & Woo decided however to stay with the Solana Alliance, voting out Tasha instead.

The primary target was Nina, with the tribe planning to split the vote between her and Vince 2-2; however, Will switched his vote to Vince, nullifying the purpose of the split vote (Vince using the idol wouldn't vote out Nina, but would vote out Jenn Brown instead).

Stephen used his "vote steal" advantage to steal Joe's vote and cast an extra vote against Joe.

Throwaway Votes
Another voting strategy related to the split vote is the throwaway vote. Even before the threat of Hidden Immunity Idols were put in the game, some castaways cast a throwaway vote (usually against their allies if they are in the minority) in order to divert votes against themselves to someone that could likely also get votes. It could also be used as a strategy on seasons with the Past Votes tiebreaker, in order to add votes to a particular castaway when the main target already had enough votes against them, that could be used for future Tribal Councils.

Some throwaway votes, however, are used to prevent the effect of Hidden Immunity Idols, and were usually done impromptu when they vote without a clear plan before it.


 * In during, Jim Rice voted against John Cochran to cover the possibility that otherwise unanimous target Mark Caruso may have an idol.
 * In during, Jonathan Penner voted against Abi-Maria Gomes in order to prevent a possible 0-0 tie. Penner himself was immune, but one of his allies may have been voted out if the vote ended 0-0.
 * In, Ciera Eastin and Katie Collins voted against John Cody during in case he played an idol for the main target and rumored secret ally Rachel Foulger.
 * On during, Tyler Fredrickson and Will Sims II voted against Dan Foley after outsider Mike Holloway threatened the opposing alliance that he would use his idol to his ally Shirin Oskooi, possibly negating all votes of the majority alliance, so that if it was executed Dan would be voted out instead of a core member.

Trivia

 * According to Cao Boi Bui, the idea of "Plan Voodoo", or split votes, came to him in a dream.
 * Eddie Fox has the record for the most number of times being a target of split votes with four.
 * He also holds the record for the most votes received at split votes, with 11 votes received as part of split votes.
 * Jason Siska and Andrea Boehlke are the first male and female castaway, respectively, to be blindsided by a split vote while holding a Hidden Immunity Idol.
 * is the only season in which multiple alliances teamed up to split the votes successfully. also had multiple alliances split vote in one instance, but was unsuccessful.
 * However, it can be argued that the elimination of Brendan Synnott in was the result of cooperation between the Timbira Alliance and the Jalapao Three. This wiki considers two of the three members of the Jalapao Three cooperating with the Timbira Alliance as independent affiliates, rather than a whole alliance co-aligning with another, which was the case at the Philippines split votes.
 * currently holds the record for the most number of successful split votes in a season with 6. It currently ties with and  for the number of attempted split votes with 6, although only 5 were done successfully.
 * Stealth R Us in holds the record for the most split votes done in one season by an alliance, with five (four of which were successful). If one counts the original incarnation of the alliance in, the number rises to eight, seven of which were successful.
 * The Fab Five alliance (started as the Coyopa Pairs Alliance) from holds the record for the most number of successful split votes, with five.
 * Erik Reichenbach, Woo Hwang, Jeremy Collins, and Spencer Bledsoe are all tied for the most number of times reneging on a split vote plan during their Survivor career, with two.
 * currently has the record for the highest number of failed split vote attempts in a season, with three.