# 9. Strategic voting ## 9.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 9.5.2 Optimisation The most common use of strategic voting is not necessarily the achievement of a manipulator's objective, but may be some damage limitation or "next best" objective. This entails the strategist recognising that their cause is hopeless and therefore voting for another cause. This alternative choice is the best, or the least damaging the manipulator can hope to achieve in the absence of their original option. For this strategy to work, the alternate choice must have a good chance of winning. For example, in a three cornered fight, such as a disciplinary action against an employee for some misdemeanour, a manager may believe that the employee should be dismissed. But realising that the cause is hopeless, he will vote for suspension rather than allow those who advocate only a written warning to form the majority. He may recognise that he has a greater chance of bringing about some punitive action in this way than by voting for his first choice, which is doomed.