spoiler effect
Third candidate's curse
The spoiler effect occurs in elections when a third candidate draws votes away from a similar candidate, causing both to lose to an opponent neither group of supporters preferred.
The term comes from the idea that the third candidate "spoils" the outcome: Many Democrats blamed Nader for the spoiler effect in the 2000 election.
The phenomenon is inherent to winner-take-all voting systems.
External, uninvolved entity
- pluralityLargest share among several
- first-past-the-postMost votes wins
- ranked-choiceBallot listing candidates by preference
- NaderConsumer rights crusader
Hinting at later events
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
whodunit · mystery · revelation · bombshell · preview · trailer · synopsis · review
Air pressing vehicle earthward
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- racingSpeed competition sport
- NASCARStock car sanctioning body
high-speed · traction · stability · performance · tuning · aftermarket
third-party
External, uninvolved entity
- pluralityLargest share among several
- first-past-the-postMost votes wins
- ranked-choiceBallot listing candidates by preference
foreshadowing
Hinting at later events
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
suspense · whodunit · mystery · revelation · bombshell · preview · trailer · synopsis · review · recap
downforce
Air pressing vehicle earthward
- airflowMovement of atmosphere
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- racingSpeed competition sport
NASCAR · high-speed · traction · stability · performance · tuning · aftermarket
- competitionscontests, tournaments, match, matches, game
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- 2000 ElectionFlorida recount, hanging chads, Bush v. Gore, Al Gore, George W. Bush
- party politicspolitical party, party, parties, party member, party system
- lift forcesthermal lift, ridge lift
spoiler effectranked-choice voting
Balloting with ordered preferences
preferential voting · runoff election · proportional representation · two-party system · strategic voting
effect, spoil, spoiled, effects, effective, spoiling, unspoiled, spoiler, spoilage