Friends, who is good at math?
What is the probability that, given 144 pizza options, 5 users from one local section vote for 5 identical pizzas, placing votes in the same order?
The probability is high and I will explain how it can happen. The first vote can come from a particular member of a local board who have earned the respect and trust of other local board members, others coming to vote, sees his/her choice and decide to vote in same direction. It happens even in circular politics in which case people simply vote for a candidate because a certain individual supports the candidate. I don't think this breaks any rule hence, taking any action because some people voted the same numbers and in the same order may not seem fair to the competition entirely. Like some people already suggested, these are areas of improvement that can be discussed after a winner have been announced based on the rules set for this year's contest.
That's bullshit. One could follow a trusted person's advice for electoral voting (as it would affect their lives, so they have an incentive to vote), but why would anyone even bother voting for pizza if they had no opinion of their own? How does this make sense?
Even if they decided to act like mindless drones and copy/paste the vote of the "leader" - that's still a manipulation. It's shameful and should not be tolerated.
It's not against the rules, but neither is leaving those who voted that way red trust ratings or discarding their votes (I believe Icopress reserved such option) + banning them from future voting.
I'm too retarded to calculate it myself, but just for reference here's AI-generated answer to the question:
Interpretation
The chance of 5 users randomly picking the same 5 pizzas in the same order out of 144 options is effectively zero under random conditions. Such a match would strongly suggest coordination or manipulation.
I agree with you! already with the fact that among the top positions there are certain "pizzas" that have little or nothing about pizza, I would ask myself a few more questions.
there was definitely manipulation here, and I'm glad it came to light.
voting is free, and it is right that everyone votes for the pizzas they like most, but voting with copy and paste just to support a candidate in their local council makes you lose the concept of this competition