Split Vote

A Split Vote is a strategy employed in Survivor by larger alliances 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 casting an equal or near-equal number of votes on two different members of the opposing alliance, 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 have a two-thirds supermajority.

The split vote was originally devised by Cao Boi Bui in the episode Plan Voodoo, 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.

Successful Split Votes
This list compiles successful split votes, in which the targets must have the highest number of votes before an idol was played, and that one of them would be eliminated. In order to avoid a 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 if Corinne played an idol.

The original intent was for the entire alliance to split the vote between Vytas Baskauskas and Katie Collins 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 Collins and Baylor Wilson 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 Wentworth (who had a fake idol) due to him being the outsider of the alliance. However, they chose Keith Nale, an affiliate as a secondary target, which did have an idol.

The original intent was for the alliance to split the vote between Keith Nale and Wes Nale 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 Nale, with the alliance planning to split the vote between Keith and Alec Christy 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 Poersch, with the tribe planning to split the vote between Nina and Vince Sly 2-2; however, Will Sims II switched his vote to Vince, nullifying the purpose of the split vote (Vince using the idol won't vote out Nina but would vote out Jenn Brown instead).

Throwaway Votes
Another type of 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 also to prevent the effect of Hidden Immunity Idols, and were usually done impromptu when they vote without a clear plan before it (an example is the throwaway vote of Jim Rice against John Cochran during ' in and possibly Jonathan Penner against Abi-Maria Gomes during ' in ). Malcolm Freberg also threw his vote away to alliance mate Reynold Toepfer in, and then begged Reynold for his idol (neither of them needed the idol). In, Ciera Eastin and Katie Collins voted against John Cody during  in case that he plays an idol to the main target and rumored secret ally Rachel Foulger.

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.
 * 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 in Philippines.
 * and currently hold the record for the most number of successful split votes in a season with 5. They also tie for the number of attempted split votes with 6.
 * Stealth R Us in Caramoan ties with the Fab Five from San Juan del Sur 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.
 * Woo Hwang reneged the most number of times on a fully executed split vote plan in a single season, with two. He is tied with Erik Reichenbach for the most number of times reneging on a split vote plan during their Survivor career, also with two.