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 to work, the alliance must have a two-thirds majority.

In seasons with the "previous votes" tiebreaker, a similar strategy could have been used had any one alliance ever obtained a two-thirds majority, but the scenario never came into play.

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 Ravu split a vote between Sylvia Kwan and Anthony Robinson, to eliminate Sylvia.

List of Known Split Votes
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.

Attempted split votes that failed
This only includes Tribal Councils where the majority alliance actually attempted the split. 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 for 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.

Trivia

 * Eddie Fox has the record for the most number of times being a target of split-votes with four.
 * 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.
 * Survivor: Philippines is the only season in which multiple alliances teamed up to split the votes.
 * However, it could be argued that the elimination of Brendan Synnott in was the result of cooperation between the Timbira Alliance and the Jalapao Three. This wiki lists the Timbira Alliance as the splitting alliance, as two of the Jalapao Three were Timbira Alliance affiliates.
 * Stealth R Us 2.0 holds the record for the most split votes done in one season, with five (four of which were successful).